The City of Rochester will broadcast the Municipal Election results, live on cable and online, on November 2nd. According to the City’s Public Information Manager, Matt Wyatt, the broadcast will start as soon as the polls close.
“We are looking forward to announcing the results from each Ward as soon as they are finalized,” said Wyatt. “We acknowledge that people are anxious to know the results as soon as possible, which is why we will broadcast live.”
On a recent episode of the Choose Rochester Podcast, Wyatt stressed the importance of voting in the Municipal Election, describing it as the best way to “make your voice heard.”
“When it comes to municipal issues, there is an overwhelming amount of engagement on social media,” said Wyatt. “The ‘You Know You’re from Rochester’ Facebook group has roughly 22k members, however, less than 3k people voted in the 2019 Municipal Election. If you want to be involved, if you have strong options about the future of the city — Vote!”
Wyatt points to cynicism as a major reason for residents staying home on Election Day. “Some people feel like their vote doesn’t matter,” said Wyatt. “However, based on the results from past elections, that’s just not true.”
“In the past, we’ve had close races that resulted in a tie, which means the seat was decided by a coin toss,” said Wyatt. “One vote could have been the deciding factor in those races, which is why voters need to participate.”
The City Clerk’s Office recently released a helpful guide to encourage first-time voters and new residents. The page outlines the voting process and includes information on how to register, how to determine voting wards, and where the polls are located.
“We want to make the process as straightforward as possible for voters,” said Kelly Walters, City Clerk. “Our ‘Vote’ page makes it easy for new voters to navigate the process. We are also available to answer questions. Visit www.RochesterNH.net/Vote to learn more.”
Walters admits that Municipal Election turnout is traditionally much lower than highly publicized national elections, which is why the ‘Vote’ page was initially created.
“Voting is empowering,” said Walters. “We want all registered voters to participate, but we also want to get new people registered as well. Every eligible resident is encouraged to join us at the polls on November 2nd.”
Before Election Day, the City of Rochester will broadcast two independent Candidate Forums. The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host a Municipal Candidate Forum on 10/25, starting at 6:30pm. Rochester Listens will host a School Board Candidate Forum on 10/27, starting at 6:30pm.
“The Candidate Forums are a great way for voters to get to know candidates for Mayor, City Council, and School Board,” said Wyatt. “They will be on cable and repeated several times. We’ll also stream them online, live and on-demand.”
Voters can tune-in to see the Candidate Forums and Live Election Results on Comcast Channel 22, Atlantic Broadband Channel 26, and streaming online at www.RochesterNH.net/government-channel.