The Democrats want to destroy America!

 

No, it’s Republicans who want to bring our country down!

 

It’s the liberals, the conservatives, the marxists, the fascists, the communists, authoritarians, the right, the left, the up, the down, pink, blue, purple, and so on. Pick your preferred group and everyone outside that circle is determined to usher in the end of all we hold dear.

 

While stoking fear and spreading division is good for the campaign coffers, it is the growing feeling of exclusion among voters and their resulting decisions to stay home and not engage that present the real threat to our democracy.

 

Despite it being one of the most hotly contested elections in recent state history, less than half of eligible Lauderdale County voters cast a ballot in the 2023 gubernatorial race between Gov. Tate Reeves and Brandon Presley. Out of the 41,000 eligible voters, fewer than 18,000 cast a vote in that race, coming out to just under 44%.

 

Turnout among Mississippi voters, which trends lower than national numbers, didn’t even top 60% in the 2024 presidential election between Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.

 

On April 1, Meridian municipal primary elections to decide nominees for the city’s mayor and five City Council members, arguably the officials who will most directly impact the day-to-day lives of Meridian residents, saw just 31% voter turnout.

 

Most recently, a special election for state House District 82 saw just 13% of the vote on March 25 and an even lower 11.8% in the following runoff on April 22.

 

In Mississippi, there are legitimate barriers that make it a challenge for some residents to exercise their right to vote. Voter identification laws, limited absentee voting, lifetime disenfranchisement based on certain felony convictions and lack of public transportation are just a few. It can also be difficult for voters to take time off work, find child care or make other arrangements to give them enough time to get to the polls.

 

Despite the obstacles, voting remains a crucial part of how we choose our leaders at the national, state and local level.

 

Any good statistician will tell you a relevant sample size is a key part of getting reliable results. The more data gathered, the more reliable the results will be.

 

The same is true for voting. The larger the voter turnout, the more likely the winning candidate is the one favored by the majority of the community.

 

How closely do the votes of 11% of eligible voters match the sentiments of the other 89%? Probably not much.

 

Low turnout results in unpopular officials, which leads to voters believing their opinions aren’t valued. That, in turn, leads to voters staying home, leading to low turnout and so on.

 

We encourage all Meridianites, Mississippians and Americans to exercise their right to vote as frequently as opportunity presents itself, which in our state is at least once each year. Don’t let cynicism and apathy deprive you of your say in how your community is run.

 

Both Meridian and Marion voters have another election coming up June 3, which will decide the mayor and five council seats — aldermen in Marion — for the next four years. Your voice does matter, and your vote does count. Go vote!