Jennifer Smith

After taking a little holiday break in Halifax with my dear husband last week, I came back to find a lovely gift waiting for me at the Town Clerk's Office - the 2010 Voters List for Ward 2!

While I have been actively campaigning since January, the release of the voters list generally marks the point where average people start thinking seriously about the upcoming election.

And so you should.


Why you should vote

You hear it all the time, but I'll say it again: if you don't vote, you have no voice. Of course I would like you to vote for me, but really - just vote. This is an incredibly important time for Milton, and the people we elect on October 25th will be making the decisions that shape this town for the next decade and beyond.

It takes a little more thought to vote in a Municipal election because you don't have a party banner or a slick advertising campaign to go by. You need to look at each candidate and assess them individually. What is their vision for Milton? Do they even have one? Will they still be listening after they are elected or are they likely to vanish? Are they bringing any new ideas to the table, or is it just the same old story?

Who will speak for you?


Where we are

We are only two days away from the nomination deadline for new candidates, and a mere 47 days from Election Day. The first scheduled All Candidates Meeting is next week, and only five weeks from now you can start voting in the advance polls.

To help you keep track of all this, I have added a calendar under the 'Events' tab above. This will show you all of these dates, plus important community events like the Fall Fair, plus Town meetings, fundraisers and more.

You should also check out the new Milton Vote website, which has a wealth of election information in an easy to navigate form.


What you should do

The first thing you should do is go to the Town website right now and check to see if you're on the voters list. It's simple - just enter your name and address (you might have to try a couple of spelling variations), and it will tell you if you're on the list and exactly where you will be voting.

Go ahead. I'll wait.
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If you aren't on the list, contact the Town Clerk's office through that same web page and they will set you up. Or just walk over to Town Hall with your ID.

The second thing you should do is decide when and how you want to vote. You have lots of options. If you are going to be away or busy on election day, or just want to beat the lines, you can vote at one of the Advance Polls. If you are going to be away that whole week, please contact me and I will arrange for a Proxy Vote for you where you basically authorize another person to vote on your behalf. These are great for students who are away at school but want to vote here in Milton.

Also, remember that no matter where or when you vote, you are now required to show identification.

The third thing you should do is order one of my lovely lawn signs. Please call or email me directly and I will happily install it myself.

The most important thing you can do is vote. And if you cast your vote for Jennifer Smith, you have my pledge that I will speak up for Ward 2.

It's time you were heard.