Granite Staters talk about what inspires them to vote this year

Brandon Bell/Getty Images News/Getty Images

By Mrinali Dhembla

August 12, 2024

As Granite Staters reflect on issues that inspire them to vote this election season, two hot-button issues—reproductive rights and democracy—remain top concerns.

Read below to find what’s drawing New Hampshire residents to the polls this year:

Jacala Mills, 58: “I have two young granddaughters, and I am very worried about their reproductive rights and freedom. Because I have granddaughters, I am really concerned about the climate.”

Mohammad Saleh, 51: “There are so many things. Women’s reproductive rights is definitely at the top. This election cycle we are facing a choice between democratic principle and lack of democracy. I am definitely voting for President Biden because the other candidate has shown verbally, and through his policy that he is not a true believer of democracy. He likes a dictatorial society.

And, of course, another thing is the rights of working class people.”

Juliet Walker, 50: “I think it is very critical that we keep the country on the right track, and I am supportive of what Biden has done so far and I will keep being supportive of what he will do in the future. We need to just keep supporting democracy and our rights as a country. It is going to be a historic election, and we need to continue to practice our right to vote.”

Peter Hansel, 37: “I am excited about this election because we cannot go backward, we need to keep moving forward, and lots of our rights are on the line.”

Katheryn Waterman, 83: “I will be voting for women’s rights.”

Vincent Hargreaves, 22: “I want to protect the communities in this country that are being attacked, communities that have been dehumanized.”

Katherine McLaughlin, 60: “The fact that women are not trusted to make their own decisions, and it feels like we are going backwards. Just the fact of going backwards, we have to vote for people who are going forward.”

Paula Sousa, 60: “Women’s reproductive rights. And the fact that the next president will have access to appoint two Supreme Court judges—that is huge. So it is not just reproductive rights, it is many other rights that we might lose.”

Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.

Author

Mrinali Dhembla

Based in Manchester, Mrinali Dhembla is Granite Post's multimedia reporter. She's previously worked as deputy editor at The Keene Sentinel, and has experience writing for many national and international publications. When not doing journalism, she likes to cook food (and eat it).

View all posts

CATEGORIES: Election 2024

Support Our Cause

Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for New Hampshirites and our future.

Since day one, our goal here at Granite Post has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Granite State families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.