Hi everyone,
Election Day is just over a month away! Below you’ll find several ways to get informed and engaged, and to learn what is on your ballot!! We hope to see a lot of folks at our monthly Oyster River Dems meeting – in LEE this month!!
Please share this newsletter widely with friends and neighbors!! And do take care during these busy, crazy days!
OCTOBER MEETING: GEARING UP FOR NOVEMBER 3
Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 PM
NEW LOCATION: Lee Public Safety Complex, 20 George Bennett Road, Lee
Join us to get up to speed on what’s on the November 3 ballot, hear about get-out-the-vote work happening locally and on the UNH campus, and find out how you can help, in ways large or small.
Please note the meeting location. This month we’re meeting at the Lee Public Safety Complex, NOT the Durham Public Library.
Details here: https://www.mobilize.us/
We will provide a Zoom link closer to the date. However, the best experience is in person!
All are welcome. Bring a friend!
DOOR KNOCKING OPPORTUNITIES
Every conversation about the November ballot and the importance of voting makes a difference!
Weekend Canvassing in Rochester and Northern Strafford County – Saturday, October 10
We’re putting together a fun group for this one. Please join us!
Our goal is to support local candidates so we can FLIP THE NH HOUSE AND SENATE. We’ll also carry literature for the rest of the ballot. Training and materials will be provided.
Sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/nhdp_
Knock on Doors with Maura Sullivan and State Senator David Watters
Saturday, October 3, 12:00 PM, Dover
Join Organize NH, State Senator David Watters, and NHDP First Vice Chair Maura Sullivan for a canvass launch. We’ll connect with voters across Dover in support of Chris Pappas for Senate and down-ballot Democrats.
Sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/
Knock on Doors with Chris Pappas and U.S. Senator Andy Kim
Saturday, October 10, 12:00 PM, Dover
Join Organize NH and Congressman Chris Pappas, with special guest Senator Andy Kim, as we connect with voters across Dover in support of Chris Pappas for Senate and down-ballot Democrats.
Sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/
Can’t make any of these? Add your name to the volunteer list, and an organizer will reach out: https://www.mobilize.us/
CD-1 CANDIDATE POLICY FORUM AT UNH
UNH’s Carsey School is hosting a Candidate Policy Forum with the two nominees for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District, Democrat nominee Stefany Shaheen and Republican nominee Anthony DiLorenzo.
Date: Monday, October 5
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM
Location: Memorial Union Building (MUB), Theatre II, Durham
This is not a debate; each candidate will take part in a separate conversation. An online option is available.
Details: https://carsey.unh.edu/news-
Register: https://lp.
Note: information about the CD2 Forum is also available on the site above.
SAMPLE BALLOTS NOW AVAILABLE
Sample ballots for the November 3 General Election are posted on the NH Secretary of State’s website. Find your town’s ballot here:
https://www.sos.nh.gov/
Tip: Be sure to download the ballot to view it. The preview image is incomplete and, in some cases, the format differs from the actual ballot.
To see the faces of the Democratic candidates on your ballot and learn more about them, check out the “Meet Your Candidates” page for your town, prepared by the Strafford County Democratic Committee:
- Democratic Candidates on the DURHAM ballot
- Democratic Candidates on the LEE ballot
- Democratic Candidates on the Madbury ballot
The sample ballots and the “Meet Your Candidates” pages are a great resource for encouraging friends and neighbors to make a plan to vote! Of course, if they don’t want the details, the message is simple: Vote for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot: EVERY RACE, FRONT AND BACK!
A BIG “NO” ON QUESTION 2
You may be hearing a lot about Ballot Question 2, which appears on the November ballot in response to NH HB 1300. It asks whether your town should cap property tax growth and SAU spending for your school district.
For background, take a look at this explainer from Reaching Higher NH, a nonpartisan organization that translates complex policy issues about New Hampshire’s public education system into clear information for families, educators, and community members:
What the school district is doing: We reached out to ORCSD Superintendent Suzanne Filippone, who let us know the District is preparing informational materials to help residents understand this ballot question and what it could mean for Oyster River. These are expected to cover what the legislation would do, the components of the district budget, how a tax cap could affect future budgets and operations, examples of potential impacts on programs, services, and staffing, key cost drivers, and areas of the law that remain ambiguous and require further guidance. Note: under state law (RSA 659:44-a), public employees may not use their official positions or public resources to advocate for or against a ballot question, so the District’s materials will be educational only.
At this time, we don’t know when this material will be available or how it will be shared, but we will let you know as soon as it is available.
Why we recommend NO: The Oyster River Democrats leadership team is working to gather information about this ballot question in one place, along with our reasons for recommending a NO vote. This is a work in progress, but we are sharing it HERE.
The bottom line is VOTE NO on Question 2!
ABSENTEE VOTING
Absentee voting is available to voters who are unable to vote in person on Election Day, and you can request your November ballot now. Check with your town clerk, in person or on your town’s website, for details. The NH Secretary of State also has absentee voting information here: https://www.sos.nh.gov/
Wednesday, October 7, 5:30–7:00 PM
To Share Brewing Company, Manchester
Join the NH House Democratic Caucus for its Brew Wave Reception with special guest Congressman Ro Khanna of California. Congressman Khanna has supported our House Democrats in each of the last three election cycles, and this is a great chance to thank him in person while helping build momentum to flip the NH House this November.
Oyster River Democrats — Durham, Lee & Madbury, NH
Find us on Facebook and Instagram: @oysterriverdemocrats
Donate to the Oyster River Democrats: https://secure.actblue.com/
