Let’s get voter turnout right for general election

Published 10:52 am Monday, July 30, 2018

A little less than 16 percent of registered voters in Milledgeville and Baldwin County turned out for Tuesday’s primary runoff election. While the meager voter turnout is probably of little surprise to most, the sadder truth is local voters turned out in greater numbers than the rest of the state. 

About 10 percent of Georgia’s registered active voters cast ballots in the primary runoff. 

Tuesday’s race finalized the matchup for November’s general election, headlined by the race for governor, which now pits republican Brian Kemp against democrat Stacey Abrams. 

There are more than 6.1 million registered active voters in Georgia, locally, just 3,580 voted on Tuesday.

We should all be disappointed in those numbers.

When voters should be letting their voices resonate at the polls, we showed up with a whimper instead. 

While we can argue that the low numbers were because there were so few races remaining to be decided, every race matters, not just the big-ticket ones that generate the most headlines and attention. 

Tuesday’s voter turnout shouldn’t be as much a shot in the gut but more a shot to spur us into action in preparation to get it right come November. 

Eligible citizens have until Oct. 9 to register to vote to in order to cast a ballot in November’s general election. While that may seem like a lot of time right now, we mustn’t let the deadline — and our own apathy — seep in much deeper. There’s no time like the present. Registering to vote, however, is only the first step. Keep in mind that there were plenty of eligible voters who didn’t see the importance or make the time to cast a ballot on Tuesday.

This election will decide who will lead the 10th Congressional District and who will lead our state in 2019 and beyond. How we vote determines where we go. Absentee ballots for the general election will be available beginning Sept. 18. Advanced voting begins Oct. 15.

Georgia’s gubernatorial race is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the nation this year with the outcome predicted to provide insight on the voter climate for the midterm races. That mean’s there will be lots of ads and talking points from pundits. While it all will certainly be a mental drain for voters we can’t let that be a distraction nonetheless. 

We have to stay on top of this election and focus on its importance so that we don’t lose sight of the significance come November.

Don’t let a small few determine the outcome. Let’s show up in big numbers and get it right come November.