Bell Seeks 10k Voters

My latest Boston Phoenix column looks at the potential effects of a low-turnout city election this year, particularly for minority candidates. I've just learned about an effort that just might change the odds a little.

Ron Bell, legendary organizer, tells me that he is collaborating with the Urban League of Boston to try to register 10,000 voters this summer -- in conjunction with the Urban League's national conference taking place in Boston in late July.

The registration effort will be non-partisan, and not limited to minorities, but realistically they are targeting black and Hispanic residents of Boston, Milton, and other nearby minority-heavy communities.

If it takes off, the registration push could also push overall political awareness among black and Hispanic Bostonians, potentially leading to more participation in the city elections later this year.

And when you consider that turnout could be as low as 50,000 for those elections, the power of registering 10,000 new voters is apparent.

And to think, some folks slow down after a heart attack. I don't think anybody expected that of Bell. I'll be interested to see what comes of this.