Secretary of State Al Jaeger said Wednesday he's disappointed with lack of voter interest in Tuesday's election. Just more than 20 percent of the state's 503,000 eligible voters made it to the polls, according to Associated Press reports.
The numbers were a little higher in Stutsman County, where more than 4,600 voted, accounting for about 27 percent of eligible voters. The county had almost 17,000 residents over age 18 when the last census was taken in 2000.
Jaeger said contests decided in the election like city, School Board and Parks and Recreation Commission deserve more attention -- and he's right. But we're proud of the showing in Stutsman County and we're proud the number has increased since the last non-presidential election primary in 2006.
According to county records, more than 4,300 voted in that primary.
We wish more people turned out for every election, even presidential ones or ones where controversial issues are decided. The decisions voters make affect everyone, not just the people at the polls.
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Thanks to the people who voted this time and to the people who didn't, we hope to see you at the polls at the next election in November.
(Editorials are the opinion of Jamestown Sun management and the newspaper's editorial board)
