Speaking Personally - A quick word about the April election turnout

Dear reader, did you vote on April 2? Only six-point-five percent of registered voters in Howell County actually showed up at the polls. 1,344 people cast a vote. There are more than twenty thousand registered voters here. 

 

Your ballot is the loudest in local elections. Did you notice how close the races were this time? Most of the seats were decided by a margin of twenty or so votes. There was even a tie for the Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III school board seat. 

 

They decided that seat by an actual coin flip, according to Missouri law. 

 

Imagine if just one more person had showed up to the polls. That’s how powerful your voice can be. 

 

In West Plains, the school board president of twenty years’ standing was ousted by a margin of two votes. 

 

That’s how powerful your voice can be. 

 

If you didn’t vote on April 2, I would love to know why not. Without an ounce of judgement, I need to learn about the barriers are that are keeping the people of this community out of the polls. 

 

Let’s talk about it. Stop by the news office, call 417-252-2123, or email editor@howellcountynews.com.