For Pennsylvania voters registered with either of the two major parties, time is almost up to ensure their voices are heard when selecting candidates to run in the midterm election.

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the May 19 primary election.

Pennsylvania is a closed-primary state, meaning independent voters and those registered to third parties don’t have a say in who the Republican and Democratic parties choose to bear their standards come November’s general election. However, there are efforts to change that.

For now, those registered with one of the two major parties have the chance to help choose. We encourage them to take part in selecting the candidates everyone will be choosing from when the general election rolls around.

While the primaries may not seem like a big deal — after all, they do not decide who actually goes on to represent us — they provide an important framework for what debate on the issues will look like.

Although it may not always clearly seem so, one Republican candidate is not just like another and the same goes for those on the Democratic side. Two individuals in the same party may hold very different views on a single issue.

The decision between two candidates within the same party can make a drastic difference on how conversations about the issues develop throughout the election.

Learning which candidates buck the party line and on which issues — and discerning the nuances between individual stances within the same party, even when they agree on an overall principle — is essential to knowing precisely what to expect should a candidate win election in November.

Given those stakes, we encourage everyone who can take part in choosing a candidate to do so.

To check on your voter registration status or for information on how to register, visit www.pa.gov/services/vote/register-to-vote.