LETTER: Reverse the Trend — Cast Your Vote on Sept. 6

The following was submitted by Darek Barcikowski, Salem Democratic Committee Chair.

On September 6th, let’s reverse the trend!

One thing that is certain about Thursday, September 6th is that voters will go to the polls and elect the Democratic candidate for the 2nd Essex state Senate seat. The winner will face off with a Republican challenger in November, but it’s probable that the Democratic candidate elected on September 6th will in fact become our next state Senator. What remains uncertain, however, is how many of us will participate in this election.

Word on the street, as well as in local media, is that turnout will be low - the election is on a Thursday, two days after the Labor Day holiday, and it coincides with the beginning of the school year. One only needs to look at the low voter turnout from last year’s municipal election to assume that this may, unfortunately, be the case on the 6th.

Salem residents cast just over 5,000 votes last November during our municipal elections. That’s out of almost 26,000 who are registered to vote and 42,000 who reside in this city.

Think of six of your immediate neighbors to the right and six of your immediate neighbors to the left. Consider that only one of you could partake in deciding who will be our next state Senator; a state Senator whose decisions will equally impact each and every single one of us. To me, that is a frightening thought.

I have seen and experienced firsthand the passion and enthusiasm with which we, as Salem residents, care about the issues that impact our communities and our lives. It is time that this passion and enthusiasm became a driving force behind an Election Day turnout we can all be proud of.

There are four candidates whose names will be listed on the ballot on September 6th for state Senate. There is still time to learn about who they are and to participate in the Democratic Primary.  

The polls will be open from 7am until 8pm on Election Day. Please find the time to cast your vote and let’s reverse the trend during this important election. I’m confident that we can.

Darek Barcikowski

Salem Democratic Committee Chair