Remember what Plato said: "The penalty for not participating in government is to be governed by your inferiors."

This is a repeat of a Newsdesk posting from last week, but today it’s even more urgent:

If you want to participate in the March 4 primary elections but are not yet registered to vote, you have until midnight TODAY (Monday, Feb. 4), to get signed up. If you think are registered … are you certain? If you have a current voter registration card in your possession (the orange one that expires on Dec. 31, 2009), then you are good to go. However, some recent database glitches between the secretary of state’s office and county registrars may have ditched some people who think they are registered.

Austinites wanting to verify their registration status should click on the links below or call the phone numbers:

Travis County (854-9473)

Texas Secretary of State (1-800-252-VOTE)

To register to vote, click on these links or call these numbers:

Travis County (854-9473)

Williamson County (943-1630)

Texas Secretary of State (1-800-252-VOTE)

This article appears in February 1 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US