BOYLAN: The Rights (and Responsibilities) of a Citizen

Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The recent run-off election in Baldwin County pitted two qualified candidates vying for the U.S. Senate. Even the most ignorant among us are aware that the members of the U.S. Senate have considerable influence on the welfare of our county welfare in every aspect of governance from the preservation of our country to the economy to social issues.  

We are privileged to live in a country that has free elections for the purpose of electing those who will serve us in the manner that our constitution prescribes. This privilege, this freedom, exists because of the sacrifices of the many who devoted their lives to its continuing existence. We should congratulate the 13,861 member of Baldwin County who elected to exercise the right to vote gained by the sacrifice of others. On the other hand, in a community of 27,543 qualified voters, the fact that but 13,861 (or 50%) exercised that right should be an embarrassment to our community. 

This data can be found at the Election Data Hub from the Georgia Secretary of State website at SOS.GA.GOV. Those who fail to exercise the rights provided, gained by the sacrifice of others, are an embarrassment to our community. Moreover, those who fail to exercise the rights provided, gained by the sacrifice of others, are unworthy to be citizens and certainly merit the approbation and disgust from the remainder of our community. They do not deserve to be on the list of eligible voters — perhaps not even to be citizens — in a country that depends on the involvement of its citizens.

Peter J. Boylan

Milledgeville