Christine Smith: Make Your Voice Heard

My friend Sandy recently died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. It is a devastating loss. The light of the world is dimmer without Sandy in it.

Sandy lived in Walpole and I met her about five years ago when our paths crossed. Sandy was not my closest friend; I did not know her as well as some and certainly not as long as others. But if you knew Sandy at all, she considered you a friend. Whenever I saw her, she would greet me with a big smile and a hug while calling my name as if she had been waiting just to see me. She was like that with everyone. Sandy had a spark, a love of life and a love of people from all walks of life. She cared about people deeply, especially children and those who were most vulnerable. Sandy did not hesitate to speak up and act when she saw injustice or if she saw someone in need.

Christine Smith

I think about Sandy daily, which I find somewhat unusual in that we were casual friends. Her impact — and loss — is that big. Knowing Sandy, she would not want me to wallow in sadness but would want me to honor her by taking action. One thing that Sandy stood up for was making sure that everyone’s voice was heard, especially those most in need.

One way for everyone’s voice to be heard is to vote. In order to have a thriving and functioning democracy, every one of us needs to step up and become an active participant, even just a little bit. And at the most basic level, that means being an informed voter and voting in every single election. Every election is important and every vote counts.

In just about one month, on September 6, voters in Canton (and across all of Massachusetts) will have the opportunity to vote in the state primary elections. Voters will have choices to make for state representative, state senator, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor.

It is not enough just to show up and vote for the name you recognize. Do you know what each of these jobs entail?  Lieutenant governor, for example, is more than just the backup for when the governor is out of town. The lieutenant governor chairs the Governor’s Council, which is the committee in which judges are nominated and appointed. As we have seen recently, courts and judges have can have a huge impact on our daily lives. The secretary of state oversees elections in the commonwealth, ensuring free and fair elections. The attorney general represents the people of Massachusetts in court. And the state auditor is the chief accountability officer for the state and helps to make state government work better for the residents of the state.

In addition, it is important to know where the candidates stand on issues. They are all out knocking on doors and making phone calls, attending candidates’ forums and have (or should have) robust websites outlining their positions. One easy and local way to  hear from some of the candidates is to attend the Canton Democratic Town Committee’s Candidate Night on August 11 at 6 p.m., held outside the Paul Revere Heritage Museum. I am sure there are similar events for Republican candidates. Whatever you do, become an informed and educated voter.

In just under 100 days, on November 8, the winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries for the above offices will face off in the general election. This election will decide the future of our commonwealth. Housing, climate change, transportation, our local economy and more are on the line.

It has never been more important, or easier, to vote. All registered voters should have received a postcard from the secretary of state’s office that they can fill out and return to request a mail-in ballot for each election. In addition, there is early voting from August 27 through September 2 for the primary. If you are not yet registered to vote or have recently moved into Canton and want to register to vote here, you have until August 27. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person. Details can be found at www.sec.state.ma.us. You can also call or visit the Canton Town Clerk’s office; the great staff that Canton is lucky to have overseeing our elections can answer your questions.

Help me honor my friend Sandy by being an informed and consistent voter. This is a crucial moment in our democracy and every one of us has an important role to play.

Christine Smith is a mother of three, an attorney and longtime Canton resident.

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Posted by Christine Smith on Aug 5 2022. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.