Hopkinton, Novel Hampshire, is holding a unique election this March: the town’s only contested race will determine its next “Dog of the Year.” The election, open to all residents between the ages of 0 and 17, aims to revitalize civic engagement among young people, according to town officials.
The idea originated with Emily Ceriello, Hopkinton’s town clerk, who observed the challenges of ensuring residents register their dogs by the state’s April 30th 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 said. “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?”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hopkinton allowed children to participate in general elections by casting ballots. Public health concerns temporarily halted the practice, but town moderator Sara Persechino believes this canine contest offers a safe and engaging way to reintroduce young residents to the democratic process. “It is important for building that civic sense of responsibility, but too demystifying it,” Persechino stated. “Hopefully, if One can make it a little more exciting for the whole family, that will be a trip that’s worth making to the polls.”
Eighteen dogs initially entered the race, but town employees will narrow the field to the top five candidates who will appear on the ballot on March 10th. Rules stipulate that only one dog per household can compete, and all canine contenders must be properly registered and have current rabies vaccinations.
With no other contested races for town or school offices this year, the “Dog of the Year” election is taking center stage. While some residents have suggested future elections could include cats, Persechino indicated that this inaugural event is exclusively for dogs.
The winning dog will receive more than just bragging rights. Their victory will be announced at the Town Meeting and prominently displayed in Town Hall for a year, along with a gift basket donated by local businesses. “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.”
The “I Voted” stickers used in the election were designed by Hopkinton’s fourth- and fifth-grade students in 2023 and 2025, adding a further layer of community involvement.
