The Nov. 6 general election is coming faster than you know it. 

In Parsippany, there are two 2012 municipal races: a one-year unexpired term Township Council seat and three Board of Education positions.

Both roles are vital to the functioning of the town and the school district. Knowing your candidates, their visions and where they stand on the issues is imperative. Not being up-to-date on the issues and candidates, not formulating your own opinion, voting for someone because you were told to do so... it's all an abrogation of your duty as a citizen.

In an effort to promote informed voting and allow residents to get to know where their candidates stand on the issues, Parsippany Patch is sponsoring a 2012 Candidates' Debate to be held Monday, Oct. 29, at the Lake Parsippany Clubhouse at 701 Lake Shore Drive.

All candidates for council and the school board have committed to take part in this important, non-partisan civic event, with the exceptions of school board candidate Joanne Mancuso and Republican Town Council candidate Judy Tiedemann. Both are certainly welcome to join us as the debate, which runs from 6:30-9 p.m.

The council candidates will be highlighted from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The school board hopefuls will get their turn from 7:30-9:00 p.m.

The moderator for the debates will be Parsippany Patch Editor Natalie Davis, who will determine and ask the questions.

There are important ways in which Parsippany residents can take part:

*  Submit questions to natalie.davis@patch.com. Please use "DEBATE QUESTIONS" as the e-mail's subject line. The moderator will select at least half of the debate questions from those sent in by Patch readers; we've received some hard-hitting, insightful submissions already. But we'd like more, so be sure and send them in by Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.

*  Attend the debate, and encourage your family, friends and associates to do the same. Voting is perhaps the most important duty U.S. citizens have. It is to everyone's benefit that voters get to know their candidates and the issues that matter to the township. In fact, showing up to vote without making sure one is informed is... un-American. Do your part: Show up and listen carefully to what your candidates have to say. Then vote on Nov. 6.

But first, join Patch on Monday, Oct. 29 to hear the words and ideas of the people who want to work for you.

For more information, send an e-mail to the above address or call 908-230-6249.

Thanks to the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association and the Parsippany Free Public Library for their assistance in helping inform the voters of Parsippany-Troy Hills.