On Tuesday, we get to exercise one of our most sacred rights as Americans — casting a vote.

This year’s presidential election has been cantankerous, contentious and, for many people, exhausting and anxiety inducing.

Thankfully, it’s almost over. Now comes the important part. Vote.

There might be long lines stretching around the block at your polling station or you might be able to stroll right in and fill in the circle for the candidate of your choice.

Regardless, casting your vote is the most important thing you’ll do this week — and it’s worth the wait. You and millions of others across the nation will get to decide the next four years in this country.

If you have a mail-in ballot, don’t drop it in the mail. Go to the Bureau of Elections in the county Government Center and hand it in personally. Otherwise, it won’t get there on time.

If you’re dropping off your ballot in person, be sure to follow the directions: Place your ballot inside of the blank secrecy envelope, then place that envelope inside of the postage-paid addressed return envelope. Fill out your information on the back of that envelope and sign it. If you don’t follow these instructions, your vote won’t count.

If you still haven’t received your mail-in ballot, you can fill out a provisional ballot at your local polling place, which you can find online at www.pa.gov. Or, if you changed your mind and want to vote at the polls, you can surrender your mail-in ballot there and vote by provisional ballot.

During the course of the day, ignore the talking heads on television who want you to keep watching and will, therefore, act as if any small piece of data or anecdotal incident is extremely important. This is aimed at keeping you nervously glued to the screen.

There’s a good possibility that all election results won’t be known by the end of the night — especially considering the number of people who are voting by mail-in ballots, which are being counted at different times in different counties around the state.

The result you’re seeing on election night might not be the same you’ll see the following day. Be patient for results. It’s important that everyone who voted is counted.

Most importantly, be proud of what you do Tuesday. Nothing says caring about your country more than doing your part to decide its leadership.

— NCD