Voter turnout was just 45 percent
As the election returns started coming in Tuesday night, I was surprised.
Not at who was leading or who eventually won any of the races. The actual numbers themselves were upsetting.
At first glance it appeared that voter turnout in Greene County was well below 40 percent in most precincts, but upon further review Wednesday morning some of the totals were a little better.
But not much better.
* Linton had a 48.8 percent turnout, as 1,722 of 3,529 voters voted Tuesday.
* Bloomfield had a much lower turnout at 35 percent, as 488 of 1,398 voters actually voted.
* In Jasonville, 30.9 percent of the registered voters -- 335 of 1,085 -- came out to vote.
* In Lyons, 49 percent of the voters turned out to vote -- 161 of 326.
* The total for the four cities and towns was 45 percent, as 2,057 of 4,614 voters voted.
If you followed any of the races the past couple of months, you have to be surprised by the low turnout in Jasonville and Bloomfield.
Jasonville was electing a new mayor for the first time in 12 years, but only 335 people turned out to vote.
And according to some, there was a need for a change with the Bloomfield Town Council, but only 488 people took the time to vote.
Though the turnout in Linton was almost 50 percent, it's disappointing that it wasn't closer to 60 percent.
The Linton mayoral race between incumbent Democrat Tom Jones and Republican Kelly Foglesong was hotly contested, and the talk of the city for weeks leading up to Tuesday.
Only 48.8 percent of the registered voters bothered to vote? That's amazing.
I know everyone has an opinion about things in Bloomfield, Linton, Jasonville, and Lyons, so why not vote?
Even if you don't like either candidate, it's still your responsibility to vote. Select a candidate that comes closest to your views.
By not voting only gives our elected officials a false sense of how they're actually doing their jobs.
By voting, it's your way of evaluating the mayor and city/town council.
There's been a lot of people die in foreign countries to allow everyone the right to vote. It's a shame when more than half of the registered voters don't take the 30 minutes to drive to the polls, wait in line, and vote.
Thanks to those who took the time to vote, and to those who didn't, please reconsider next year.
Every vote counts, and it takes everyone to make a community a great place to live.
Chris is the general manager/editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at cpruett79@hotmail.com
- -- Posted by concerned Bloomfield citizen on Thu, Nov 8, 2007, at 8:37 AM
- -- Posted by justsoyaknow on Thu, Nov 8, 2007, at 12:55 PMChris Pruett's response:Yes, these figures are just for the cities and towns listed. Next year there will be a county election.
- -- Posted by RDK on Thu, Nov 8, 2007, at 5:39 PM
- -- Posted by Mr. F on Thu, Nov 8, 2007, at 7:15 PM
- -- Posted by lilpatrietta on Tue, Nov 20, 2007, at 6:01 PM
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