By Daniel Winningham
In less than a week, area voters will head to the polls for the April 5 consolidated election. Local polls will be open for 13 hours Tuesday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., giving those registered to vote ample opportunity to cast a ballot.
Turnout will undoubtedly be abysmal, it always is. Judging from past turnout from 2021, 2019 and 2017, it would be a miracle to get to 25 percent.
The latest projection is likely well below 20 percent, according to county clerk Jared Kutz. It didn’t even crack 17 percent last year and there was a pretty important tax decision on the ballot – whether or not to increase sales tax for the purpose of funding a new justice center, but there is this: five of the county’s 14 precincts did have a voter turnout of better than 19 percent. On the flip side, the Silver Lake (41 of 540 registered voters, 7.59 percent) and Yount (54 of 638 registered voters, 8.46 percent) precincts both had a voter turnout of less than 9 percent.
A total of 2,183 voters among 13,042 registered voters cast a ballot last year. Obviously, it was more than enough for the Prop C.O.P.S. initiative to get approved.
In 2017, the overall turnout in Perry County was just a tick below 24 percent (3,022 votes cast among 12,598 registered voters, 23.99 percent) and better than nine out of 10 (2,777 of 3,022 cast a ballot for the Proposition K.I.D.S., which was overwhelmingly approved (1,963 votes in favor, 70.69 percent in support).
Turnout in the 2019 consolidated election was less than 10 percent (1,149 ballots cast among 12,434 voters). Only five of the county’s 18 precincts that cycle surpassed a double digit turnout (10.0 percent) with Farrar leading the way (36 ballots among 200 registered voters, 18.0 percent turnout).
For those who care about elections and the democratic process, the disappointment perhaps lies in this: there are once again few contested races. Of course, it depends on where one lives if one of the contested races besides school board and hospital board of trustees will wind up on the ballot. For those in the city of Perryville, two races (mayor and ward 3 aldermen) with more than one candidate is a plus for the voters. Competition should be viewed as a good thing. It can improve focus and deliver better messaging, whereas complacency can reign supreme with only one option to choose.
While there may not be a Proposition to make a decision, like the Prop C.O.P.S. initiative from a year ago, or the Prop K.I.D.S. measure that was adopted by area voters for the school district in 2017, it’s still vitally important for those who can vote to do so.
A story published by U.S. News & World Report in November 2020, a few days ahead of that election, had the U.S. at 56 percent turnout for its voting age population when measured in 2016, far below a host of other nations, including Turkey (89 percent), Sweden (82.1 percent), Australia (80.8 percent) and Denmark (80.3 percent), as well as Belgium, South Korea, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand and Iceland (all above 75 percent).
Admittedly, there often is little attention paid to the municipal or consolidated election each year. It shouldn’t be that way. The candidates chosen, especially in the school board races, have more impact on tax dollars than any state senator, U.S. Congressman or President will but many just don’t see it that way.
It’s an embarrassment for the turnout to be as low as it is every year.
-Thanks for reading!
Daniel Winningham is the managing editor of the Republic-Monitor. He can be reached at 573-547-4567, ext. 227 or email editor@perryvillenews.com.
