Mary Alice Bisbee: We risk losing our democracy if we don’t do our civic duty and vote

This commentary is from Mary Alice Bisbee of Montpelier, an 85-year-old disabled person, at least sixth generation from Vermont and a former hospital and nursing home social worker.

Vermont’s primary election is August 9, which will be here much sooner than we think, and this year’s primary is very important.

Two years with Covid and with the virus now considered endemic, it is more important than ever to be sure that you are registered at your current address, even if it is only a move in your same city, so there will be no confusion when you go to the polls.

If you are a senior and/or have disabilities that prevent you from lining up on August 9, you may want to have your ballot mailed to you or drop by the town or city clerk’s office early for you. make sure your vote is counted. .

As a former member of several civil boards, I know how different voting is in small towns in Vermont and elsewhere, with many traditions followed that are quite unique in some municipalities. Vermont residents are not required to register for a single party, but must choose a single party ballot when voting in the primary.

Do you know where to go to vote? Do you know the positions of the candidates on the issues that are most important to you? Have you tracked where their campaign money is coming from and where they stand on the issues most important to you and the people you love?

Or are you one of the vast majority of people in your town who are convinced that your neighbors will do the work for you, or that you just won’t like any of those people who choose to work hard for us to keep our strong democracy? Some say, “What does it really matter, anyway?”

All we have to do to lose our great democratic way of life is fail to do our civic duty by not voting.

This year we have many new choices. So many lawmakers chose not to run or decided to run for higher office. Please attend the many candidate forums, in person or virtually, to meet the candidates, learn about their priorities, understand their positions and review the proposals that will be presented in November.

The only thing that stays the same these days is change. If you want to be part of this change, be sure to educate yourself and take action. We no longer live in the 1950s and climate change, immigration, diversity, morality, inflation, lifestyles, and income inequality are gradually changing our communities and the entire United States of America. America.

Your vote is your voice. Use it or lose it.