Participation in
primary is a
sign of the times

Voting is said to be somewhat like prayer: most people don’t participate unless there are difficult times.

The Columbus County Board of Elections says that voter registration and participation in early voting has been unprecedented. Primary Day is tomorrow.

“A pleasant surprise” is what Columbus County Board of Elections director Carla Strickland calls the surge in voter interest. More than 2,400 people have already cast their ballots.

Young people are turning out in record numbers, Strickland said, no doubt because a number of national issues affect them. Perhaps many are concerned about the current administration’s negligence in dealing with global warming, or maybe there are concerns that another war or conflict would cause the reinstatement of the draft.

High gas prices and the recession are on everyone’s minds.

Whatever the case, young people have a dog in this fight, and they may very well be the determining factor in the race for president.

Then there are three seats for county commissioner up for election, an unusually competitive Register of Deeds contest, and a hotly contested race for the Democratic nominee for governor.

The polls open tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Chances are you’ll see many of your neighbors at the polls if they haven’t voted already.

Regardless of political persuasion, Americans should always appreciate the privilege of voting and having their voices heard, in the good times or bad.