In a few hours, the polls on the East Coast will open for the 2008 United States election.

You may be tempted to stay home because you believe your candidate’s victory is a foregone conclusion, or because you believe his defeat is. Or because you look at the scale of a presidential election and conclude your vote does not matter. And the further west you live — as I’m realizing, now that I’m in California — the stronger that temptation becomes.

Get out there and vote anyway.

Vote because this is your first chance to elect someone other than a white man into the White House. Or if that isn’t your cup of tea, try one of these.

Vote because you can keep a good representative or senator in office, or dump a bad one.

Vote because you can do the same for governors, state legislators, mayors, judges, town councilmen, and dozens of other local officials.

Vote because you can change the laws of your state, county, or city.

Vote because you can.

One vote alone will probably not decide the next President of the United States. But we’re more than just our head; all the rest of the body matters, too. And you can always make a difference there.

Vote even if they call the race when the East Coast polls close. Even if you have to stand in line. Be a part of this.