Stand up and be Counted

Today is the last day to register to vote or make any changes on current voter registration for the March 15 special state primaries. Bostonist loves democracy, even if we can’t seem to do it as well as everyone else around the world. Mayor Menino sent every household an annual resident listing form (i.e. the yearly census of everyone over 17). It’s rediculously simple and you can do it online. We filled out our form, but Bostonist wants to know where can we find out how many dogs get registered this year?

The form is one way for you to get your voter registration records up to date before the special election primaries. "Special Elections" (especially the primaries) usually have ridiculously low turn out. This means that if you’re living in the 12th or 18th Suffolk Representative District and you go out to vote in the primary on March 15 you will have a big voice. The implications of this vote aren’t presidential in magnitude; we’re not even talking about the next Governor or Mayor. This is for those coveted seats at the State House. There is a lot that a State Representative can do for or against you. This election will find a replacement for Thomas M. Finneran in the 18th district. You may remember him as the democratic speaker of the house who just couldn’t deal with all the gay marriage going on in the commonwealth. Remember, these people do have power, even if it takes years for anything they do to take hold.