The Town of Uxbridge earned a place in history as the place where the first woman voted.  In colonial America, women, members of minority groups and adults younger than 21 could not vote.   Then in 1756, at a town meeting in Uxbridge, which was then a part of the Massachusetts colony, Lydia Taft (nee Chapin) became the first woman known to vote legally on October 30, 1756.

In the United States today, voting is a right, a privilege, and a civic responsibility.  Citizens have fought hard to win the right to vote.  Soldiers and civil rights workers have put their lives at risk and sometimes died defending your right to vote.  Can you spare 20 minutes on May 24th to honor their work and their sacrifices?

Vote because your vote counts!  Uxbridge is a small town of 14,162 people according to the 2020 US Census.  In 2020 there were 10,718 eligible voters in Uxbridge who cast 3995 votes in the presidential election, but in the 2021 town elections only 1069 votes were cast, representing slightly more than 10% of eligible voters. Outcomes of our local elections are often decided by small majorities.  For example, the difference between the winning candidate for School Committee in 2021 and the closest losing candidate was only 14 votes!  For positions with no identified candidates, people have been elected with as few as 24 write-in votes.  Vote so you have a hand in choosing your leaders.

Vote as if your life depends on it.  Some of the people you vote for control the purse strings in town, including how many police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel the town hires and the extent of their qualifications.  You will be glad you did if your home catches fire, or if you or a loved one is involved in a serious traffic accident.

Vote to keep your money. The primary thing the local government does is collect property taxes and levy fines on water, sewer, and other municipal services. These take a significant chunk out of every person’s and every family’s income to pay for critical services such as police and fire departments, roads, and schools. Bond issues and propositions decide whether you pay higher property taxes for specific projects. You may feel that some are worthy of your tax dollars while others are not, but if you don’t vote you aren’t helping to decide.

Vote to secure your safety. Although crime is low in Uxbridge, we live in troubled times in this country. Different leaders have different opinions on how to protect us. At the same time, some people think police officers have too much power, others believe that some portion of funding for police departments could be better spent on strengthening social services. Choose leaders who you feel will protect your life and civil rights.

Vote for the next generation. Decisions we make today impact our children, grandchildren and all generations that follow. Want to preserve open space for your own and their recreation?  Want to fund the schools so that our children will be equipped to solve the local and global crises we’ve handed to them?  Set a good example for our children and encourage civil and civic responsibility by casting your vote.  They will be watching.

Vote or lose your right to complain. If you don’t bother to cast a ballot you can’t whine about problems in town. Agree with the decisions that a town official has made?  Vote for them.  Don’t like the decisions that a town official has made?  Vote for their opponent.  But cast your vote and help decide who represents us at the table.

Vote to save the world. Global warming and environmental issues impact us all. These concerns must be balanced with economic factors and our energy needs. The carbon footprint we generate in Uxbridge, when added to those generated by all other towns in Massachusetts, can have a significant impact on how resilient Uxbridge is in the face of climate change.  Vote for candidates who will work to preserve open space and forests, support low-impact development, and reduce chemicals that threaten our health and that of our children.  Or vote for people who oppose these measures because of their economic impact.  But vote because in addition to being born with rights, we are also born with obligations to serve past, present, and future generations and the planet herself.

Most importantly, vote to preserve our democracy.  All over the world today, democracy - a system of governing in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them through a system of representation involving periodically held free elections – is threatened. When people don’t vote, democracy is threatened because decisions are made by a minority of individuals.  When you don’t vote, you let other people make important decisions for you.  If personal independence is important to you, then voting should be too.

Neglecting to vote is not rebellion, it’s surrender.  Bad people with terrible ideas get elected by good people who don’t vote. Really. If you don’t vote, you surrender.

Your community matters, and it’s bigger than you are. When you vote, you reach beyond your own selfish interests toward something we all have in common. Our communities are made up of friends, loved ones, neighbors, and children. Some may not know how important voting is, while others don’t yet have the privilege. Make the decision to vote for yourself and those around you because you care about them and about the future of Uxbridge. Voting is an opportunity for change. Do you want to make a positive impact? Voting gives you that chance! Support the candidates and ballot measures that can help your community for the greater good. Make your voice heard! The community - all of us - depends on YOUR vote.  Make it count!

Uxbridge Votes! On May 24th at the McCloskey School.  Polls open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.

Uxbridge for All is a non-partisan group of volunteers interested in the future of Uxbridge and, as such, supports and promotes effective local government and a thriving community.  Our core guiding principles are transparency, inclusion, and stewardship.