Tuesday, municipal elections were held in the Golden Triangle, not that most folks seem to care.
This was particular true in Columbus and Starkville, where less than three in 10 bothered to go to the polls. West Point, by contrast, had a 45.69 percent turnout — almost one in two — and while that’s not a big number, percentage-wise it puts Columbus (27.57 percent turnout) and Starkville (28.62 percent turnout) to shame.
In Tuesday’s edition, we urged registered voters to turn out to make their opinions about how city government should operate known in the most tangible way possible — by taking part in the selection process to choose those who represent us.
We noted that every effort to make the voting process easy, efficient and accessible had been put in place and that while there could be any number of excuses not to vote, there was no compelling reason not to exercise the franchise.
But far too many failed in their civic duty, and we are mystified why it should be so.
Perhaps Tuesday’s poor turnout reflects an attitude among citizens that the election doesn’t matter, that there are not candidates worth of their support, that things will never change.
Granted, our cities face challenges and our elected leaders have not always made wise decisions.
But when citizens adopt a cynical attitude and express it through indifference, that, too, is a grave challenge to the health of the community.
To be blunt, if you did not vote, you are part of the problem.
You have an opportunity to redeem yourself, first by avoiding every cynical excuse and going to the polls, either in the run-off elections that will be held in some wards and by going to the polls for the general election in June.
If our cities are to become better places to live, work and play, the responsibility rests as much with the citizens as it does with those who are elected to do our bidding.
If you care about your city, we’ll see you at the polls in the coming weeks.
It really is that simple.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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