“The best defense of democracy is an informed electorate.”— Thomas Jefferson
Happy autumn, and welcome to our special election edition! While it is not a presidential election and there are no burning issues (like the tax cap) on the ballot this time, your vote is still tremendously important to the candidates and the future of our city. Please get out and vote on Tuesday, November 3rd! The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you can cast your ballot at your usual location:
- Ward 1: St. Mary Church Hall – Chestnut Street
Ward 2: First Parish Church Hall – 218 Central Avenue
Ward 3: Langdon Place – 60 Middle Road
Ward 4: Maple Suites – 30 Holiday Drive
Ward 5: St. John’s United Methodist Church Hall – 28 Cataract Avenue
Ward 6: Riverside Rest Home – 276 County Farm Road
Dover’s Online Election CenterIf you are unsure about what ward you’re in or need information about registering to vote, the city website can help you (or your friends and neighbors). Check the top right corner of the webpage for links to ward maps, voter registration information, sample ballots, and more. If you still have questions, contact the City Clerk at 516-6001.
We Will Not Tell You Who to Vote For
The members of Good for Dover are known for supporting growth and progress in our city. We encourage elected officials to help Dover move forward (hence our support of the Children’s Museum, Waterfront Development, and energy conservation). Generally, we tend to disagree with the editorial stance of the Dover City News. While we do appreciate the paper’s coverage of community events, we think it’s important to remember that DCN is published by some of the same the people who brought the tax cap to town. Ward 3 City Councilor David Scott is one of its owners, and the paper continues to reflect the political views of a small (but often vocal) group of citizens who seem to criticize and complain without proposing new solutions.
Learn Before You Vote
“If we don't have an informed electorate we don't have a democracy,” says Jim Lehrer, host of The NewsHour on PBS. We agree. With the right to vote comes a great responsibility: to be informed. Fortunately, there are many ways to learn about the issues and understand the views of those who hope to represent us.
- Read the local newspapers.
- Watch or attend the Candidate Forums on October 26th & 27th (details below).
- Review candidate questionnaires on the Chamber of Commerce website or in the October 14th issue of The Wire.
- Visit campaign websites.
- Ask questions of the candidates by phone or email.
- Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors.
Candidate Forums: October 26th & 27th
If you haven’t been closely following local politics lately, here’s your chance to hear from the candidates themselves! The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce again presents Candidate Forums for the public to gain knowledge about those running for office. Don Briand, News Director of WOKQ 97.5, will be the moderator. The forums will take place in the City Council Chamber at City Hall and will be broadcast live on Channel 22 from 6:30–10:00 p.m.
- Monday, October 26th School Board, At-Large & Mayoral
- Tuesday, October 27th Wards 1–6
In preparation for these forums, candidates were asked to fill out questionnaires. View their responses on the Chamber of Commerce website.
What is a Ward Clerk and Why is it on My Ballot?
Have you ever wondered how those friendly people who greet you at the polls ended up there? Most of them actually ran for office! Now is your chance to do the same. A quick review of the sample ballots shows that Wards 1–4 are lacking candidates for Ward Clerk, Moderator, Selectmen, or Supervisor of the Checklist. (Congratulations to Wards 5 & 6 for having a full slate of candidates!) You’ll find brief descriptions of these positions and the vacancies in each ward below. We hope those of you who live in Wards 1–4 will mount write-in campaigns to ensure that there will be friendly faces to greet voters come next election. All it takes is a few friends and you can be elected (and get paid for your election work)!
- The Moderator (needed in Wards 2, 3, & 4) serves as the chief election official in charge of a polling place. This person is responsible for the ballot count and works closely with the City Clerk.
- Technically, the Selectmen (needed in Wards 1, 2, 3, & 4) choose appropriate, accessible polling locations. Lately, since Dover has fairly consistent polling places throughout the city, the Selectmen help the Moderator on Election Day.
- Ward Clerk (needed in Ward 1) may be the person who helps voters put their ballot in the machine.
- The Supervisor of the Checklist (needed in Ward 4) maintains the voter list for each ward. This person ensures that new voters belong in the ward and helps Independents who want to vote in party primaries.
Your Vote is Your Voice
We all have a voice on November 3rd. Make sure you use yours to make a statement about what’s good for our city and its future!
