Forum for Sept. 30, 2024: Young voters

Published: 09-30-2024 6:00 AM

Note to young voters

Knowing more young people get their news online than in a daily paper, this letter is addressed to Upper Valley parents. Do you have a child who will be 18 by Nov. 5? If so, I encourage you to have them register to vote in this historic Presidential year. So much is at stake for all of us, and today’s teens could help determine who will be our next president. In New Hampshire they could take part in shaping who represents us in Congress, who our next governor will be, and who shapes our state laws in Concord.

This election will determine whether we move forward on so many of the issues that affect the next generation. Issues that bear on their prosperity, autonomy over their own bodies, and the democracy we all must protect.

Parents, urge your almost-18 teenagers to register. The New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website is a good resource for help on what documents are needed. If they are leaving for college in another state, have them check the rules there. Most states allow pre-registration for those who will be 18 by Nov. 5.

Our young people are about to inherit a future full of peril and promise. Make sure they have a voice in what that future will look like.

Rep. Laurel Stavis

D-West Lebanon

Try a week without driving

Have you ever wondered how people who don’t drive get around the Upper Valley? Approximately a third of people in the U.S. do not drive. In Hanover, where many students, seniors and international residents live, that proportion is considerably higher.

A Week Without Driving, Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, asks people who can drive to experience what it’s like to be a non-driver for one week. The aim is to help the public, elected officials, policymakers and planners gain firsthand insight into the challenges non-drivers encounter, and to create better communities for everyone.

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The challenge was launched in 2021 by Disability Rights Washington. In 2023 America Walks partnered in this effort to take the program national. Hanover Bike Walks invited the Hanover Selectboard to take this challenge. I’m inviting you to join us, even if just for a day.

The challenge consists of not driving yourself for one week. Otherwise, you can get around however you want. You can ask someone else to drive you, ride transit or use rideshare services. This applies to all activities, not just work commutes.

The good news is that Advance Transit buses are running more than ever, including during evenings and on Saturdays.

Thank you for considering joining a #WeekWithoutDriving to understand the challenges people face when driving is not an option.

Jennie Chamberlain

Hanover

The writer is a member of the Hanover Selectboard. The view expressed here are her own.