Presenting the Canton Voter Guide

During and after last year’s town election, I heard from a number of voters who felt that there was a lack of information about the candidates and the offices for which they are running. While the Canton Citizen provides comprehensive coverage of the municipal elections and candidates, some citizens were looking for an easy place to find all the basic information online and in one place.

Christine Smith

Also at the same time last year, a friend of mine in another town had put together a voter guide that contained election information for her town. And so my idea for a Canton Voter Guide was born. I was determined to do the same for Canton for our 2024 municipal elections.

I knew I needed assistance, so reached out to other Canton residents who shared a similar interest in local elections and who also would bring different viewpoints and a wide variety of knowledge about Canton’s institutions for help. I am forever grateful that Kristin Mirliani, Greg Murphy and Mark Porter agreed to join me in this effort. Together as a team we put together the Canton Voter Guide, available at cantonmavoterguide.com.

As voters in the town of Canton, we thought it was important to provide a centralized location for residents to learn more about the candidates and the offices they are each running for this election season. We have prepared the site to be user-friendly and informative, not partisan and not in support of any particular candidates. In addition, we have each committed to not publicly support any candidates in this upcoming election season.

Our common goal was to provide information to Canton residents to empower them to become informed voters and, hopefully, engage more voters to vote in local elections. As stated on the website, local elections — the elections that matter most in their direct effect on our day-to-day lives — give voters a voice in determining which local officials will make the decisions that affect our schools, roads, public safety, and local businesses. The Canton Voter Guide is designed to help voters feel more confident when voting in our town elections.

The voter guide has two main sections. One lists Canton’s elected offices and provides a description of the responsibilities of the various elected boards. The other section contains information about the 2024 election, including links to checking voter registration and voting location as well as information about the candidates running for local office.

We will be reaching out to every candidate who has submitted nomination papers to the town clerk. Candidates will be asked to provide a statement that explains why they are running for office, their background, and their qualifications for the office, along with links to any campaign website and/or social media pages. That information will be posted on our website. Candidates should be on the lookout for our request but can also reach out to us directly at info@cantonmavoterguide.com to provide their preferred contact information.

The Canton Voter Guide is merely a first step towards increasing engagement and participation in Canton’s local elections. All four of us have also heard from others that a candidate forum has been missing in recent years and we are also exploring the possibility of putting one together. Stay tuned!

To every candidate, thank you for running for office! In a healthy democracy, we need people willing to step up and serve our community. We look forward to your participation in our website and an informative election season.

To the Canton voters, we ask you to take a look at the website and check back often as new candidate information is posted. We will be sharing information on local social media groups as new information is added. We also ask that you remain engaged in the local election process and participate in a respectful manner.

Let’s make 2024 the year of increased meaningful participation in our local elections and of working together for an even better Canton.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=122005

Posted by Christine Smith on Feb 16 2024. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion, Town Election. Both comments and pings are currently closed.