Prior to 1971, the legal voting age had been twenty-one. The drafting of eighteen-year-olds to fight in the Vietnam war, prompted the argument, “old enough to fight, old enough to vote”. The United States Constitution amended the legal voting age to eighteen.

I registered to vote shortly after my eighteenth birthday and the first presidential election in which I voted was in 1976. President Jimmy Carter defeated President Gerald Ford by a small margin.

I was raised to believe that it was good citizenship to participate in our elections. My parents always voted and went into the polls informed. I don’t believe that they always voted for candidates of the same party! Nevertheless, they paved the way by setting an example for me to vote.

With a very important election upon us, I hope that seasoned voters will pave the way for young voters to register. I hope that parents and grandparents will take their 18-year-olds into town offices, help them gather the documentation needed, and see that they get registered. If young voters are away at school, help them to register for an absentee ballot by contacting the town clerk for an application and follow through with young voters by making sure that they mail them in on time.

New voters, young and old, can register in person at the polls with proper documentation. Proof of citizenship (birth certificate), proof of residency (passport and/or photo ID) will be required. Don’t let this discourage you. 

A ballot affidavit can be signed if any of the documents are missing. (This is the last election in New Hampshire in which it will be available.) If you need help, don’t hesitate to call your town clerk before Election Day.

As I write this, the election is seven weeks away. Olivia Zink of Open Democracy reported that New Hampshire has 21 percent of 18-year-olds registered. We need to reach the other 79 percent. 

I encourage everyone to talk with young voters that you know or encounter in the weeks ahead. Let them know how important their vote is. 

Let’s talk with not-so-young voters, too. Let’s make talking about the election an okay thing to do! It is, after all, what makes our republic a democracy! Voting is patriotic. Right?

Our roads and neighborhoods are seeing political signs popping up, supporting both sides of this election. Let’s be adults and elders and pave the way for civil and respectful discourse. We might not like the party our neighbor is supporting but I do believe that we can still be neighborly and kind.

Vote on November 5!
Donna Baker-Hartwell