The big day is almost here — Nov. 8 marks the 2016 general election.

As the elections approach rapidly, it’s time for voters to start taking their civic duty seriously.

A lot of people already know enough about the presidential and state-level candidates to make a decision. However, it never hurts to do some extra research. Look into these candidates to really get to know their backgrounds and their policies. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton may be burning up the airwaves with 24-hour election coverage, but it’s important to go back to the basics and take a hard look at policies and platforms.

Voters should do even more research on the local-level candidates. These candidates, once elected, will make the biggest impact on residents’ lives — from property taxes to trash pickup to providing municipal facilities. Their decisions have a direct effect on the voters in Beaufort County.

Throwing out the word “research” is daunting for most people. It’s a big job and certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Start with the Beaufort County Board of Elections website (www.beaufortncboe.com) to get the basics down pat. The website includes information on the candidates, sample ballots and the latest campaign reports. Many candidates have their own sites, as well, outlining their policies and briefs.

This same type of information is available on a larger scale at the State Board of Elections’ website: www.ncsbe.gov.

For those who prefer the old-school way of researching candidates, the Daily News is also compiling its 2016 Election Guide for the local level, set to come out with the Oct. 29-30 weekend paper.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make decisions. Now is the time to start research — not the night of Nov. 7. It will make all the difference.