I used to live in an area that was politically diverse, what we now call a “purple” area. The primary election determined who would represent each party in the November general election, but the outcome in November wasn’t guaranteed — it could go either way.

 In Rye, at the federal level, it’s different. Although no party has a majority in Rye, we are in a solidly Democratic district. New York Congressional District 16, our congressional district, includes communities such as White Plains, Mt. Vernon, and Hastings that have overwhelming Democratic majorities. In Rye, for Congress, the primary is the election. Unless you vote in the Democratic primary, you will have absolutely no say in who the next member of Congress will be. 

 You can change that, at least you can if you act by Feb. 14. That is the last day to choose a party affiliation for the Congressional primary in June. It’s as easy as registering to vote on the same form. You can access the form from ryecitydems.org or the Westchester Board of Elections website, citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com.

 Every voter in Rye should have a say in who represents us in Washington, D.C.

– Lisa Tannenbaum