Popular tech got a moment in the spotlight in the townhall debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, when moderator Candy Crowley sneaked Apple into an economic policy question. But let’s be real: this election won’t hinge on technology issues. Just look at prevailing discussions this year at the national level: major candidates have sparred over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the role of government, inane comments on the female body, and to nobody’s surprise, the economy. Despite that fact, many decisions will be taken up by the next US president and those in Congress that will affect the world of tech, and by consequence, the real lives of citizens and human beings around the world — from alternative energy, to the use of killer drones, the regulation of wireless spectrum, and policies that aim to control content on the internet.

Your chance to vote is just around the corner. Here’s what’s at stake in tech this election, and how the major candidates could influence our future.