( CNN ) -- Fifteen hundred elections and ballot initiatives will be decided Election Day 2013 . Although no congressional or presidential candidates are on the ballot , the results of the votes will have a significant impact on the everyday lives of millions of Americans . With so much on the line , we Americans owe it to our families , friends , neighbors and communities to get out to the polls . Today , September 24 , is National Voter Registration Day , which gives millions of Americans who are n't on the voter rolls a chance to easily register . On Election Day , which falls on November 5 , the outcomes of many major political races will be determined , including the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia . Once elected , these governors will work with their legislatures to draft their states ' budgets and determine how much road improvements , parks and school systems will be funded and whether state taxes will go up , down or stay the same . Several mayoral elections will also be decided in November , including the race to lead New York City , America 's largest metropolis . Parents will be asked to determine the makeup of school boards , many of which face tough decisions because of budget cuts -- one of the toughest being whether to close schools . Entire communities will need to determine the outcomes of ballot referendums that will amend state constitutions or establish or recall local laws that affect everyone in the community . It is important that all Americans help make those decisions . To that end , more than 800 organizations , including the National Association of Secretaries of State , are taking part in the largest one-day effort of the year to register voters and secure their participation in the American political system . Identified as a national day for civic action , National Voter Registration Day brings together nonprofits , volunteers , celebrities and political leaders to engage potential voters on the ground through coordinated events nationwide . From bus and rail stops , to retail stores and malls , to concerts and fairs , thousands of voter registration events are planned . Why create a day to bring national attention to voting ? Because voting is the bedrock of our democracy and how every American takes ownership of the communities where we live , work and play . Voting is also the easiest way to make your opinion known on any issue -- local , state or national -- that 's important to you and your family . To improve our schools , we must vote . To restore or build new parks that our kids can safely play in , entire communities must vote . To improve our transportation infrastructure , every American has to vote . In 2012 , more than 300,000 Americans registered to vote during the first National Voter Registration Day . This year , we will continue to do for civic engagement what Earth Day does for global warming and environmental awareness . On September 24 , we encourage and welcome all Americans who are n't on the voter rolls to join us in a celebration of our democracy by registering to vote . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rosario Dawson .
Rosario Dawson : Today is National Voter Registration Day , making it easy to register . Dawson : Voters on November 5 will have many crucial races and initiatives to decide . So much is on the line , she says , we owe it to our communities to vote . The mission of the Media Research Center is to create a media culture in America where truth and liberty flourish.