Civic Engagement, Rooted in Community
New Hampshire has some of the most impressive numbers when it comes to voting, and in the Peterborough area, that civic spirit has a story worth sharing.
Anne Huberman was one of the first people to move into our Village campus. She and another new resident who was a former state representative, Jo Ellen D’Ambrosio, soon realized there was no League of Women Voters chapter near campus and set out to change that. Inspired by their experiences with the League, they established the RiverMead Residents’ Voter Information Committee.
A Nonpartisan Resource for Every Voter
The Voter Information Committee serves a nonpartisan mission. It never endorses political parties or individual candidates. Instead, it focuses on voter education, civic engagement, and public policy issues.
Its work has included local candidate forums, informing residents about elections, helping new residents with the voter registration process, and helping residents who qualify for absentee ballots.
Although political information is available in many forms, Huberman and D’Ambrosio recognized that residents lacked a central source for registration guidance and general voter information. They hoped that the Voter Information Committee would fill that need.
Making Important Information Easier to Find
By bringing in different speakers and making relevant documents accessible, the group began to see a meaningful difference.
When Mary Vallier-Kaplan moved into RiverMead and the committee welcomed her, she soon became the chair of the group, overseeing its organizational work, while Huberman manages the website. The site brings together the information they have gathered over the years in one convenient location.
Residents can find links to information about every candidate, ways to check voter status, registration instructions, an absentee ballot form, and much more.
Together with many others who have joined over time, Huberman and Vallier-Kaplan help residents and staff understand the registration process and find reliable information about the steps involved. The group remains nonpartisan and warmly welcomes everyone who wants to participate, Kaplan shares.
Staying Informed, Engaged, and Confident
“The Spirit of RiverMead is the spirit of America… This work inspires me as a citizen.”
-Mary Vallier-Kaplan
Town moderators and other public speakers have also spoken on campus, giving residents access to
local debates, the town clerk, local candidates, and much more.
Kaplan also holds meetings for residents who have questions about general voting information. Along with these meetings, every new RiverMead resident is contacted by a trained resident volunteer who inquires about voter registration status and offers help if needed. Kaplan understands that moving can change voter status and that the process can be complicated, and she knows these conversations help many residents as they move to RiverMead.
RiverMead residents and staff are warmly invited to learn more, bring their questions, and participate in this welcoming, nonpartisan community effort to stay informed and confident about voting
