The Upcoming Town Election

Dear fellow residents of Wakefield:
As students currently attending Wakefield Memorial High School, we are strong believers in the importance of political engagement. A privilege that is often taken for granted, voting is especially important in town elections, and we recognize the power that just one vote may have. One vote could clean up Lake Quannapowitt or fill it with sand. One vote could build a new high school. One vote could ban the sale of legal marijuana in town.

One vote does matter, and that one vote could very well belong to you.

In the special municipal election last July, only 12.37% of Wakefield voted. Voter turnout amongst young people was significantly lower. Needless to say, we found this to be incredibly disappointing. When Wakefield fails to show up to the polls, all it does is convey laziness and apathy- neither of which we feel accurately define our community.

There are many reasons for somebody not to vote, and in a town election, one of the leading excuses is that people feel uninformed. They may be unsure on where to vote, when to vote, and who is running; this can be especially true of young people. That’s why we started “Wakefield Votes”, a movement designed to create educated and informed voters in town. You can find us on Twitter at @WakefieldVotes and on the Facebook page “Wakefield Votes”. There, we will share all the information you need to know about this election and future elections.

Our main goal right now is to reach out to the people of Wakefield and encourage everyone to cast their vote in the town election on April 25th. These votes will serve to elect Selectmen, members of the School Committee, and a Constable, among others. It is crucial that we take steps to build a more active and engaged community, and voting is the first step; our town is better than 12.37%. No matter who you are voting for, we can all agree on one thing- a Wakefield that votes is a stronger Wakefield.