Make yourself heard in primary election

Voting in the primary means taking an active part in determining the final field from which voters will choose this November. This decision is too important to leave in the hands of a mere 15 percent of the registered voters, a typical turnout in the past few primaries.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100822/OPINION01/8220304/Make-yourself-heard-in-primary-election # # # # Make yourself heard in primary election  •   Tuesday is the primary election. Please vote. The primary is an important part of our democratic process, and determines who will be on the general election ballot in November. Voting in the primary means taking an active part in determining the final field from which voters will choose.  •  This decision is too important to leave in the hands of a mere 15 percent of the registered voters, a typical turnout in the past few primaries.  •  The focus of a primary election is to choose candidates who will represent their party in the fall general election. But a primary in Vermont is more than an exercise limited to active party members or the partisan faithful.  •  Vermont's open primary system allows all registered voters to cast ballots and choose in which party's race they want to weigh in on. The system extends an open invitation to participate -- a much better system than picking candidates in a caucus or other forums open only to insiders.  •  On Tuesday, Vermonters will choose which of the five Democrats -- Susan Bartlett of Hyde Park, Matt Dunne of Hartland, Deb Markowitz of Montpelier, Doug Racine of Richmond or Peter Shumlin of Putney -- will face off against the sole Republican candidate, Brian Dubie of Essex Junction.  •  The Democratic gubernatorial candidates have been through the campaign, taking part in dozens of debates and forums -- sometimes more than one on the same day -- holding events around the state, meeting people on the streets and speaking before just about any group that would invite them.  •  The Democratic gubernatorial race presents an unusually rich field of strong candidates, but there are also both Democratic and Republican primary contests for other statewide offices.  •  For lieutenant governor, Sen. Phil Scott of Berlin and Mark Snelling of Starksboro are vying for the Republican nomination, and Steve Howard of Rutland and Christopher Bray of New Haven are the contenders in the Democratic race.  •  For secretary of state, Republicans Jason Gibbs of Duxbury and Chris Roy of Williston face off against each other, while on the Democratic side, it's Jim Condos of Montpelier and Charles Merriman of Middlesex.  •  For auditor, Ed Flanagan and Doug Hoffer, both of Burlington, are running for the Democratic nomination.  •  Six-term incumbent Patrick Leahy of Middlesex faces challenger Dan Freilich of Wilmington for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.  •  Three Republicans -- Paul Beaudry of Swanton, John Mitchell of Rutland and Keith Stern of Springfield -- are in a race to represent their party against Democratic Rep. Peter Welch of Hartland in November for the state's sole congressional seat.  •  There are decisions to be made all the way down the ballot, for state House and Senate seats as well as more local posts.  •  The essential question for the primary comes down to this: Do you want someone else to determine who the field on the November ballot? The candidates have done their part. Now it is up to Vermonters to make their choice.  •  Make yourself heard. Vote on Tuesday in the Vermont primary.  •