Hold fast to hope this election season | Letter

Ruth Covell of Gorham urged residents to keep voting in a letter to the editor of The Press Herald, noting a trend of pessimism in recent reader submissions and op‑eds. In her piece, Covell referenced Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope” to frame her message: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all.” She added that the only time many people feel heard is when they cast a ballot. Covell said, “We never stop hoping for change, which is why we must never stop voting for that change. For the majority of us, our vote is our voice.” The letter, sent from Gorham, emphasizes that voting is the most powerful way for citizens to express their hopes and shape future outcomes.