Hopkinton Kids to Decide ‘Dog of the Year’ in Unique Election | NHPR
Hopkinton Kids to Decide ‘Dog of the Year’ in Unique Election
HOPKINTON, NH – In a charming twist on civic engagement, the town of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, is holding a special election in March – but the candidates are all canine. The only contested race in town this year will determine Hopkinton’s “Dog of the Year,” with voting power exclusively reserved for residents aged 17 and under.
The initiative, a revival of a tradition paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to engage young citizens with the democratic process. Before the pandemic, Hopkinton children participated in voting during general elections, observing and casting ballots for candidates. Now, they’re returning to the polls with a decidedly more playful contest.
“It is important for building that civic sense of responsibility, but also demystifying it,” said Sara Persechino, the town moderator. “Hopefully, if we can make it a little more exciting for the whole family, that will be a trip that’s worth making to the polls.”
The idea for the dog election originated with Emily Ceriello, the town’s clerk, who noticed challenges in getting residents to register their dogs by the state’s April 30 deadline. “We were hoping that maybe doing something fun like this might encourage people to do it sooner. It’s such an easy thing to forget to do,” Ceriello explained. “We wanted to involve the kids and let the kids be part of the process, and what better way than including them in the town and school elections?”
A total of 18 dogs initially entered the race, and town employees will now narrow the field to the top five contenders who will appear on the ballot on March 10. Rules stipulate that only one dog per household can run, and all canine candidates must be properly registered and have current rabies vaccinations.
With no other contested races for town or school offices this year, the canine competition is taking center stage. While some residents have inquired about a future election for cats, this year’s event is strictly for dogs, though Persechino hinted at the possibility of feline participation in the future.
The winning dog will receive more than just bragging rights. Their victory will be celebrated on Hopkinton’s social media channels, announced at the Town Meeting, and prominently displayed in Town Hall for a full year. A gift basket filled with dog goodies from local businesses will also be awarded to the top pup.
“I have not heard of any robust campaigning that has begun yet, although I will say, we still don’t know who those final top five dogs will be to make it onto the ballot,” Persechino said. “We’ll see what happens after that. It’ll be fun to see what people do with it.”
Hopkinton residents can find information about the human candidates running for town election and the school candidates on the town’s website.