Last week’s Election Day was almost a nonevent. There were some national races that were on the radar, but it seemed that in many cases, the media paid more attention than the voters.

You had to really pay attention to be aware of local elections, if you were even in a municipality that had one. Many were delayed because of pending redistricting. There were very few candidates’ signs along the roadway, no newspaper ads or mail flyers that I saw, and only a couple of candidate forums. The percentage of voters going to the polls was paltry, with some precincts reporting single- or double-digit voters when there should have been several hundred.

I couldn’t vote this time because even though I’m surrounded by Wake Forest, I am not in it. I am happy that Mayor Vivian Jones was reelected for another term because I know she is anxious to complete some long-term projects, both locally and state-wide, and I am also happy that Keith Shackleford will be on the Board of Commissioners. He grew up here and works here and knows the town on many different levels. 

I didn’t know any of the other candidates and am not sure how I might have voted, but I hope Nick Sliwinski will be a good choice for Wake Forest.

The other towns in our vicinity kept most of their officials, but the voter turnouts there were skimpy, too.

It’s not too hard to understand how people can skip voting in what seem like inconsequential elections, but a chance to have our small say every chance we get, is never inconsequential. I am a firm believer that you earn the right to complain about our government only by exercising your right to vote at every opportunity.

There is much discussion about individual rights, and expressing views through marches and protest signs and slogans and hats and T-shirts satisfies a need for some people, but a mark at the ballot box is the only thing that really counts. 

Vote! Every chance you get — vote! It’s your right.

Jean McCamy is a Wake Forest artist.