O P I N I O N

THE SOAPBOX

Stand up. Speak up. It’s your turn.

Polarized rot is eroding our democratic foundations and you can do more than watch. NH cities are having primaries and elections this Fall and many are short election volunteers.

NH citizens need to step up to fill open roles. If you know people in Manchester – ask them if they are in Wards 4, 5, 11 or 12 and suggest they and their friends sign up to be a poll worker. The same for Rochester Ward 5.

You may not know people in Berlin, but look hard and reach out, as Berlin is still short two moderators and six supervisors of the Checklist. You may know more people in Nashua as they need clerks in Wards 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9. Nashua Ward 6 also needs a moderator.

We all buy a huge amount of government service each year and while we have the most direct influence at municipal elections (city and town), NH participation rates are abysmal (10% to 30%). If you want a healthy democracy, help get people volunteering at our elections and make sure you and everyone else shows up to better manage what happens with the money we hand over for local services.

Steven Borne lives in ry and is NH Common Denominator Newsletter Editor

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