Voter turnout in the Tuesday Primary Election in Coahoma County was dismal and your Clarksdale Press Register is concerned.
A total of 1,633 ballots were cast out of 15,257 registered voters in the county for a 10.70 percent turnout. That’s one-in-10 adults who wanted to take part in the direction of their country and community.
We understand it was a Primary Election and the Presidential candidates were shoe-ins. And as always in this state the incumbents are the easy favorites.
Things change very slowly in Mississippi.
We want to look around and try to find a reason why 90-percent of the eligible voters in our county didn’t take the time to cast a ballot.
In a day and age when so much is changing in our world and our country, we need to make sure the people who represent us reflect our views and our values.
If you did not vote in this week’s election, what is your excuse?
Maybe you are discouraged by the electoral process. Most of those who voted last week probably are, too – but they made a difference.
Maybe you didn’t have the time. Our local elections officials and poll workers can get you in an out of the voting booth in 15-minutes.
Maybe you just didn’t care, and that is the reason that worries your Clarksdale Press Register the most.
A recent poll indicates most Americans just don’t care who their leaders are. And we think that is an indication they don’t care about what is actually happening to our community, our state and our country.
As we now turn our focus to fall elections and city elections next spring, this newspaper hopes those who really love this community will urge their fellow countrymen to get involved once again in making our community strong.
We also hope those discouraged or encouraged by last week’s outcome will consider running for office. Clarksdale needs its best and brightest to step up and have the courage to be a leader.
We hope you will keep a close eye on the election process. We hope you will urge your friends and neighbors to vote.
America is rapidly losing many of its freedoms. And many of those freedoms are being lost because the good people of this town and county don’t get out and vote.
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