Why vote in the Worcester election? It’s your city if you vote…

Do you care if there are enough jobs? if you live in safe housing, if the schools have enough teachers?

Do you care about cultural awareness and diversity of representation throughout Worcester’s government? when the police are around and when they are not? if the City supports our wide variety of locally-owned businesses? If city policies increase protection for our natural environment, our kid’s health and future and save money? If your expenses keep going up because of property taxes and water and sewer bills?

If any of these issues matter to you, then it matters whom you vote to run this city.

200 years ago, only white men over 21 who owned property could vote (although they did not have to be citizens!). People have struggled ongoingly in this country to make voting easier and more accessible. Now women, people of different races and economic positions, eighteen-year olds all have the right to vote. The Civil Rights movement even got rid of fees and tests used to discriminate against people voting.

It costs no money to vote. Any citizen over the age of 18 can easily register. Go to the City Hall elections division or to the registry of motor vehicles. Ask for a voter registration form (in the language easiest for you to read or write). There are not many questions, but you must answer them all. Sign the form at the bottom to legally swear that all the information is true.

You can return the completed form where you got it, or write Worcester in the pre-printed address, and mail it in. You will receive a letter listing your name, political party, and place to vote – save this as proof of your registration. You only have to register to vote once to vote in any election, although you do need to notify the City elections registrar if you move.

You must register before the election. There are two election dates for Worcester City Council this fall: voting September 11 will narrow down the choices for the final election on November 6. To vote on September 11th, you must register by Wednesday August 22nd. If you miss that deadline, just register by Wednesday, October 17th to vote on November 6th. Put on your schedule to come vote both September 11th and November 6th between 7am and 8pm.

It is easy to feel stupid or intimidated the first time you participate in an election. You don’t need to feel stupid. Many foreign election observers have noted how confusing and complicated US elections are. Your voice matters. Don’t let anything stop you from exercising your right to make an informed vote. You can also be assured that your ballot really is secret – only someone you tell will ever know how you voted.

You have the right to ask questions of election officials, bring a friend to help you vote, get help with translation. You have a right to take time from work to vote. Many campaigns give rides to the polls if you need one.

Worcester has 11 City Councilors. 5 are elected from the 5 districts, sub-sections, of the City. 6 are elected for the whole City as City Councilors At-Large. The Mayor will the one of those 6 At-Large City Councilors who announces they seek to be mayor and gets the most votes. When you vote, you choose one District Councilor for your district; you vote for up to six of the candidates running at-large; and select one of those for Mayor. You also get to vote for six candidates out of those running for School Committee. Remember you can vote for up to 6 at-large candidates, and up to 6 for School Committee, but it is perfectly legal to vote for less or to leave part of the ballot blank.

To learn about candidates, you can read periodic newspapers articles about them, but should also feel free to call or email any candidate for information. They are supposed to listen to you when they get elected; if they won’t even listen or respond to you now, don’t expect them to once they are elected!

Many people look forward to their first time voting. Even if it feels more like work than fun, it is critically important. A few votes sometimes change the outcome of an election! Regardless of who you vote for, you will be taken more seriously by whoever gets elected. The fact that you voted, means you pay attention. They know you’ll vote for someone else in the next election if your concerns aren’t represented.

Please participate! Even if you personally aren’t eligible to vote, you can encourage others to register, learn about the candidates, and vote on both September 11th and November 6th, 2007!