May 13, 2025: Election Day

Evan Gerson is a sophomore at Dartmouth College. He began his involvement in Hanover's local government during his freshman year as the alternate for the Hanover Bike Walk Committee. He now serves as the vice chair.

He begins his morning just like every other person: wakes up, brushes his teeth, and starts his day. But one thing is different. Due to limited housing at and around Dartmouth, he was assigned to live in a dormitory common room converted into a shared bedroom. 

"They put the guy thats running for and working towards better housing in a common room. Ironic."

The distance between Evan's dorm and Hanover High School - the town polling location - is 0.8 miles. In that stretch, bike lanes are either narrow or non existent. Evan says many students have expressed concerns to him over rider safety. As part of the Bike Walk Committee, he says plans are being generated to address safety concerns. 

"I'm a confident rider, but I see how it is scary to those who may not be. People deserve to live in a walkable and bikeable town."

During election days in Hanover, polls are open from 7am-7pm. Evan arrived promptly at opening, greeted the poll workers, and went to cast his ballot. He, of course, voted Evan Gerson for select board and "yes" to each article on the ballot. 

"The weather is beautiful. We're first on the ballot. It's a good day to vote."

Evan and Nicolás Macri - a 2024 Dartmouth graduate and former Bike Walk Committee member - stand along the polling entrance with signs supporting Evan's campaign and ballot article two. Two town residents, including one local architect, were posted at the start of the walkway throughout the day. The pair advocated for people to vote "no" to article two - an initiative that would allow for rezoning of properties that would expand housing.

As people arrived at the school to vote, most would engage with either Evan and Nico or the town residents - many chose to speak to both.

"This is democracy; at least, what's left of it."

Because students had yet to show up to vote, Evan decided to change locations and head back to Dartmouth's campus. He stationed on The Green (the campus quad) in-between class periods to recruit students to vote. When they were available, he encouraged them to head to the polls by themselves or in groups. Evan's efforts were successful as Dartmouth students arrived to vote soon thereafter and throughout the day.

"I'm headed to The Green. We need to get as many people out to vote as possible."

With Evan gone to campus, Nico held down the fort at Hanover High. He engaged with every single voter using the same phrase: "Thank you for voting. I hope you'll consider supporting housing." Other supporters, including a doctor at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and a local advocate and mother, joined him throughout the day. 

One voter told them they "need[ed] bigger signs" to be comparable to those of the anti-article two advocates. 

"We prefer to engage in conversation with people," Nico responded.

With voting ending at 7pm, people began flocking to the Hanover High Gym for a meeting that would relay the status of the articles and candidates voted on throughout the day, as well as hold votes on additional issues. 

The town of Hanover holds "Business Meetings" at Hanover High every second Tuesday in May at 7pm, according to their website.