Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 22 : Fall 2014 | Page 16

Time to Make
Our Voices Heard
Jane Margesson AARP Maine Communications Director
I have been asking older Maine residents from the
County a simple question over the last few weeks. Why
do you vote? Here a few examples of the responses I have
received:

How would you protect Social Security for today’s
seniors and strengthen it for future generations?
How would you put Medicare on stronger financial
ground and protect today’s seniors and future retirees
from rising health costs?

Harold Violette of Madawaska told me that he thinks
it is important to vote “because it gives us a chance to How would you help Americans save so they can secure
make a choice for what we believe is right, even if it is their future and live independently as they age?
one of among millions of votes. It makes me appreciate The candidates’ responses are culled from publicly
the fact that we live in a free country that allows us the available information and excerpts from their own
choice between opposing opinions.” Gail Maynard of campaign sources. Printed alongside their answers are
Woodland agrees. “It is a great privilege to be able to AARP’s non-partisan principles on each of these issues.
vote and for many of us,
The voters’ guides provide
unbiased
information
including women, the right
that can help voters make
to vote was hard won. I take
informed decisions when
great pride in going to the
they go to the polls. You can
polls every year and casting
easily find the voters’ guides
my ballot. It would be
for Maine on our website
unthinkable not to.”
www.aarp.org/me, or, if you
With just weeks to go before
prefer to receive a print copy,
the elections on November
you can call our office at
4th, this is a good time to
1-866-554-5380.
carefully consider where
the candidates stand on
As a state, Maine has a strong
the issues each of us finds
voting history. Particularly
important. Mainers have
among voters 50+, the
important decisions to
Gayle Maynard
statistics are very impressive.
make regarding both the
state and federal races. If you are having trouble making According to the US Census Bureau, Maine’s voting data
up your mind about the candidates, AARP Maine’s non- for voters 45 and older in the last ZY]\