Absentee voting is now underway for this year’s county elections, but it would be more appropriate to say that voting has been absent in Calhoun County over the past decade and appears to be getting more scarce.
Voter participation in the last four county elections has steadily dropped from nearly 65% in 1999 to 60% in 2003, 57% in 2007 and 53% in 2011.
Based on those trends, less than half of the registered voters in Calhoun County this year will decide the next sheriff, supervisors, chancery clerk, constables and other important positions that impact our lives on an almost daily basis.
Joel McNeece
Even an issue as hot as the alcohol debate in Pittsboro generated less than 50% of that town’s registered voters when they approved the sale of liquor last December.
Pittsboro recently elected Gerald Hubbard as its newest alderman in a special election with a grand total of 21 votes cast.
Bruce and Calhoun City’s last municipal elections barely topped 20% in voter participation.
Only 14% of the registered voters in Calhoun County decided to participate in electing our U.S. Congressman Trent Kelly.
The apathetic nature of the citizenry, not just in Calhoun, but all over this country, when picking their representatives who ultimately decide how much taxes you pay, whether we go to war or not, and how much money will be spent on your child’s education, is absolutely stunning.
Circuit Clerk Carlton Baker, whose office will be open this Saturday and again Aug. 1 from 8 a.m. until noon for absentee voting for the Aug. 4 primaries, said barely 40 absentee ballots have been cast thus far.
The Aug. 4 Democratic ballot has five local contested races. Willie T. Boyd of Vardaman, Scott Clark of Pittsboro, Mark Hendrix of Vardaman and Roger Westmoreland of Calhoun City are vying to advance to the general election for sheriff in November.
The first three supervisor districts also each have challengers. District One Supervisor Earnest Fox of Bruce is facing R.J. Rivera of Calhoun City. District Two Supervisor J.B. Rogers is being challenged by Roncie Hardin. Both are from Bruce.
District Three Supervisor Gwin Longest has competition from Justin Ferguson and Bruce alderman Danny Rodgers.
The Democratic ballot also has a constable race featuring incumbent Jay Vanlandingham, Mike Hensley and Ella Stovall, all of Bruce.
If you choose to vote in the Republican primary you have one contested local race – Keith Bollinger of Bruce and Ron Griffin of Banner are vying to advance to the general election for district three supervisor.
The GOP ballot also features several intriguing statewide races for the nomination including Gov. Phil Bryant versus Mitch Young. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is being challenged by Alisha Nelson McElhenney. State Auditor Stacey Pickering is expected to face a tough challenge in Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler.
The greatest chance for an upset is likely to come in the race for state treasurer where incumbent Lynn Fitch may actually be an underdog to David McRae.
If you can’t make it to the polls on Aug. 4, stop by Pittsboro between now and Aug. 1 and spend five minutes casting your vote. Don’t waste your right to have a voice in your government.
Email Joel McNeece at joelmcneece@gmail.com & follow him on Twitter @joelmcneece