Teachers first. They have so much power and I hope many will use it wisely in the next 10 days. The voting rolls close next week and there is still much to be done. Why is it important now? Because we are all about to assess the importance of equality. This postal survey – if that's what we are calling it now – is not about marriage. It's about much more than that.

Only about half of all 18 year olds are enrolled to vote, according to the Australian Electoral Commission. That means half are not yet motivated enough to sign up.

And that's where teachers come in. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority agreed years ago that students should be taught civics and citizenship, although sadly that's now embedded in history and geography subjects instead of taught independently.

What are students meant to learn? The key features of the electoral process and and ways we can participate in our democracy, including through the electoral process. It's such a shame that enrolling to vote can't be an assessment item because we know that students make a special effort to learn something if they know they will be assessed.

Murray Print, one of Australia's leaders of civics education and a professor at the University of Sydney, understands teachers could attract criticism for advocating equal marriage.

However, he does point out that under the Australian curriculum, teachers are duty-bound to teach students about their role in democracy and to teach a set of integrated values.

"Those values relate to things like equity and social justice and the values of freedom of speech and freedom of association," he says.

Last year, I had 1100 students in a subject on citizenship. When they first arrived at university, maybe one in 10 had enrolled to vote. Whether it was through the good efforts of my colleague Christina Ho and me, or whether they were persuaded by the lively AEC material, only one was left unenrolled by the time of the cut-off date for enrolment last year: a conscientious objector.

But there's not much time for a comprehensive enrolment approach now – given the short notice.

There is a role for all of us – not just teachers – whether it's to sign people up for voting or whether it's to sign people up for supporting equality.

Since I'm straight, I thought it might be best to ask the advice of the co-chair of Australian Marriage Equality, Alex Greenwich, as someone best positioned to suggest ways of campaigning. Was there a wrong way to support marriage equality?

"We need to ensure there are many supporters of marriage equality. There have been some amazing voices of straight people for this over the years and this reform is not only about gay people, it's about Australians wanting to live in the country where our laws should reflect our shared values of equality," he says.

So what does he think of attacks, such as the one last week on publisher Mia Freedman, when she supported #married4marriageequality (pretty much with the assistance and support of Australian Marriage Equality).

"Mia is a phenomenal supporter of marriage equality. Her support is strong and genuine and that should be supported and celebrated. She has a voice and is influential. We should welcome and support that."

He is particularly grateful to her voice as a mother who supports same sex marriage. Alex celebrated his own wedding to his beloved husband Victor Hoeld in Argentina with his mum and 29 others.

"I hoped that there would have been many more if I'd had it in Sydney."

Am I pushing same-sex marriage? Maybe. It would be good for the economy (imagine the size of a local Greenwich wedding) and it would be good for general emotional well being.

I'm certainly pushing marriage. As a veteran of 34 years in the institution – and as someone who has always believed that the personal is political – I can honestly recommend it.

I'm pleased wealthy white Mia Freedman supports it in public and wish many more influential people would do that.

A young friend asked me what I was doing to support marriage equality. I thought of organising a posting bee because I fear too many millennials have never been near a mail box. But I know this: I believe in equality. If people want to get married, they should be able to get married. Or divorced. Or be able to benefit from assisted reproductive technologies. Or adopt. Or buy and sell houses. Benefit from superannuation or pensions.

If you do too, then perhaps direct your critical attention to those who don't believe in equality. Support those who do. And get out and vote.

Jenna Price is an academic at the University of Technology Sydney and a Fairfax Media columnist.

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