To the editor:
I will vote “yes” on Proposition 3 because voter participation is one of my core values. I strongly believe that when more people vote, we all benefit. In my ideal world, every person eligible to vote would register to vote, and every registered voter would vote in every election. However, asking Pelham Manor neighbors to vote in up to five or six elections a year is unnecessary and simply too much.
I have been living and voting in Pelham Manor for 19 years. Every year, I wonder why our village elections are in March. Fewer people vote in March than in November. Shouldn’t we all want greater voter participation?
I did my best under the circumstances to get more people to vote. I canvassed—went door to door visiting my neighbors—for many years in February, in the freezing cold, ice and snow. I tried to convince people that it was important that they vote in every election, including our village election in March. When my son was old enough (12 or 13), I took him canvassing with me, to teach him about the importance of direct involvement in the community, getting to know your neighbors and encouraging people to vote.
I taught my son that elections are not about someone else somewhere out there doing “political” stuff. They are about each of us taking a role, as voters and as people who encourage others to vote and stay informed about issues—local, national and everything in between.
Maybe I convinced a few extra people to vote in March, but mostly what happened was that people would get busy and save their time and energy for the bigger election in November, when there was more on the ballot. So our March elections continued to have low turnout.
Now, we all have a chance to make voting easier in Pelham Manor. I am confident that the people of Pelham Manor can handle voting on national, state and local issues at the same time. We are a community of intelligent people who care about each other and our future. I hope my Pelham Manor neighbors will join me in voting “yes” on Proposition 3, so that we can all fulfill our civic duty of voting in every election.
Jennifer Rohr
30 Sherwood Ave.
Natali Wind • Oct 21, 2024 at 9:30 pm
I agree with this and all the other letters supporting the switch to November. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned in the letters though is how the switch in date can also change the location since the Board of Elections may have a different (and in my opinion, better) idea of where people should vote. For example, I don’t drive so I am happier with where the BoE has determined I should go and it will make me more likely to vote. I imagine I’m not the only one and so that will increase turnout too.