Turnout during last Tuesday’s primary election exceeded expectations and was close to double the lower end of the county’s prognostication for participation. That’s great news, right? If only.

Wil White, the county’s solicitor, said that the turnout among county residents during the election was 28%.

We’re not criticizing White, whose expectations for what would be considered “good” turnout is likely based on years of experience observing elections, and determining about how many people will show up. Last week’s election may have drawn more people to the polls than a typical primary. But still — that’s pretty pathetic.

Just over a quarter of people eligible to vote — and thereby play a role in determining the future of their community — did so.

White noted that other than some possible interest in district judge races or school boards, a likely reason more people turned out was due to relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and nice weather.

County voters are certainly not alone in their apathy. According to Nate Silver’s polling analysis website FiveThirtyEight, anywhere from 35% to 60% of voters sit out any given election.

Now, we understand that Tuesday’s primary was going to have smaller turnout than, say, a presidential election, a governor’s race or one that determines that the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate.

That being said, the people on the ballot last week are ones who will make important decisions that affect your community. They do everything from helping to set policy in schools to voting on zoning laws that can determine the character of your neighborhood.

And one of the few things you can do about it — other than voice complaints at local school board, supervisors or council meetings — is significant. You help to decide whether the people in charge in your community get to stay in charge.

When you skip out on voting, you lose the right to complain when a local board makes a decision that you don’t like.

The county’s Bureau of Elections had fairly low expectations for voter turnout this year, most likely, because they’ve seen it time and time again. For everyone who didn’t bother to vote, let’s plan to blow the bureau’s expectations out of the water during the general election Nov. 2.

Take a few minutes to acquaint yourself with who’s running for office in your community, set aside some time on election day and go vote.

— NCD