Turnout by voters is a disappointment

We just had a municipal elections in Sikeston and other communities in Scott County. I remind readers of that fact because 88 percent of the registered voters decided to sit out this April election.

That's right - voter turnout this past Tuesday was a dismal 12 percent with some precincts slipping to around 4 percent turnout.

For starters, municipal and county elections are important. Sikeston voters - the few who took the time to vote - elected two members to the School Board and a fresh new face to the City Council.

These Board and Council members will be part of the collective body who approve ordinances for our community that will impact your lives and the Board members will decide policy for your kids in school.

And yet - as important as it was - only 12 percent of registered voters took the time to vote.

Granted, it's not a presidential election that generates ample headlines. But sometimes, these local elected officials have more sway on our daily lives than the president.

There are ample excuses for not voting and some are legitimate. But younger voters, especially, always post extremely low turnout in municipal elections and, for the life of me, I can't understand why.

Don't misunderstand - this problem is not limited to Sikeston. Virtually all communities post much smaller turnout in April municipal elections.

But that doesn't excuse the small showing.

And on one final note, elections cost money. In some communities, the cost to man a voting precinct is hard to justify when only a handful of voters come to the polls.

Many communities will eventually consider - some already have - reducing the number of polling locations to keep costs down.

In hard economic times, cost cutting is essential.

I would favor reducing voting precincts in the wake of a 12 percent turnout. It's inconvenient and the voices of many voters would be heard because of the difficulty of going to a "foreign" precinct to cast a ballot.

But we get what we deserve.

And for the 88 percent of registered voters who sat out this election, you missed a golden opportunity to cast your ballot for some dedicated people who put their name on the ballot.

They deserved better.