Not only does your vote make a difference, but your activism does, too. Be it tight races or the rise of an unknown but promising candidate. Our work at the grassroots level is crucial to winning many elections —local, state or national.

November 17, 2009 Special Election for Selectman's Seat

DTC members Joe Macchia and Laila Michaud are running for a seat on the Board of Selectman. Resident Peter Normandin is also running.

Wednesday, October 28 is the last day to register to vote in this special town election.

Monday, November 9 is when candidates' first campaign finance reports are due to the Town Clerk's Office.

The Special Town Election will be held on Tuesday, November 17. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Westminster Elementary School.

What does it take to win?

Even in the era of micro-targeting and “robo-calling” to reach voters, the Presidential candidates and the Massachusetts Democratic Party still wants to contact them the old-fashion ways: on the phone, at their door, in their mailbox, on their lawn. Some Democratic candidates want to make this contact as personal as possible. Maybe they want to encourage people to re-engage in local, state and national policy-making. Maybe they don't have the money it takes to run lots of ads or use micro-targeting and “robo-calling.” Regardless, these candidates in particular are looking to build their volunteer base. In these campaigns , volunteers sign up to do phone banking, to go canvassing, to attend standouts, to deliver lawn signs, to mail “dear friend” postcards, to do literature drops, to get out the vote, and drive people to the polls. Candidates and the state Party turn to Democratic Town Committees to organize much of this volunteer work.

But this isn't an exclusive club. Independents are welcomed to lend a hand!

How to get involved

Both registered Democrats and independents can get involved in a political campaign by contacting the Westminster DTC. If we are not the town coordinator for the campaign you're interested in, chances are that we will know who is. We can also get you what you need from the campaign staff or the state Party network.

This is exactly what at least three registered independents did to get involved in the 2006 Deval Patrick/Tim Murray campaign for governor and lieutenant governor. Each of them contacted either the campaign or a DTC officer looking for advice on how to help out. One independent wanted a lawn sign and tickets to a big rally in Worcester. She volunteered to go to Worcester to get tickets for several Westminster residents. Another expressed interest in getting a bumper sticker, a lawn sign and doing standouts. The town's campaign coordinator dropped off the sticker and sign at his house; he helped with the traditional Election Day standout outside the polls. The third said she'd do anything to help. She took a lawn sign, made get-out-the-vote calls and helped with the traditional Election Day standout.

To contact the Westminster DTC about volunteering for a campaign, please send an email to westminsterdtc@gmail.com or call the chair, Kim Caisse, at (978) 833-6163.