Fielder’s Choice

Low voter turnout seems to continue to be a theme — in any election.

It was certainly talked about a lot following the recent Democratic Primary in the City of Holly Springs.

Final numbers show 1,660 people voted on April 6 in the mayor’s race. There are 5,644 registered voters in the city, according to city hall. That’s a terrible turnout of 29 percent.

Four years ago, in the mayor’s race, 2,110 people voted. From 2017 to 2021, that’s a drop-off of 450 people voting.

Last Friday, I decided I’d dig out some old bound copies of The South Reporter.

I started with the election in 2001, which was 20 years ago. That’s the year I moved to Holly Springs, but I did not arrive in time to participate in the election or cover it from a news standpoint. That year, 2,241 people voted for mayor.

In the next election, 2005, that number dropped off substantially. Only 1,753 voted in 2005.

Then the numbers started rebounding.

The mayoral election of 2009 saw 2,141 residents of Holly Springs vote.

In 2013, the turnout climbed to an all-time high over the past six Democratic primaries with 2,322 people voting.

So, if 2,322 voted in 2013, and this year 1,642 voted, that’s an even larger drop-off of 680.

But 2,322 is still less than 50 percent.

I heard a few possible reasons for the low turnout April 6 ­ including COVID concerns, municipal elections moved up to April from a normal May date, a lack of interest ­ period, and so on and so forth.

Bottom line — if you are registered to vote, you should do everything within your power to vote. It’s your right.

I understand that sometimes it might be impossible to go on Election Day. Absentee voting is also available.

I had a man tell me one time, when I was working in another city, that, “One vote doesn’t matter.” But it does. It really does. What if 500 people took that approach? That’s 500 votes.

As it turns out, the low voter participation on April 6 wasn’t just a Holly Springs thing. It was a statewide trend in municipal elections.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office received reports of low voter turnout for municipal primary elections throughout the state.

Secretary of State Michael Watson also answered a few calls about people campaigning too close to precincts and a few other issues. He said his office is closely watching to make sure all election laws are followed.

“A huge thanks goes to the wonderful poll managers and municipal clerks, without whom our municipal elections would be impossible,” Watson said. “We will continue following up on any irregularities reported to our office in an effort to continue refining and strengthening Mississippi’s elections.”

By the way, there’s a runoff election next Tuesday, April 27, in Holly Springs. Let’s rise up and change the trend of the low voter turnout.

And that will be followed by the general election on Tuesday, June 8.

All voting takes place at the Eddie Lee Smith Multi-Purpose Center.

Please, vote!