EDITORIAL: Our nation's biggest threat

In every election there are winners and losers -- and in every election there are examples that every vote counts. That's particularly true in smaller communities, and Tuesday's election was no exception.

In Gordon, the top three vote-getters would head to City Council. They were separated by 24 votes; second and third place were separated by four votes. In Irwinton, the mayor's job was won with a 19-vote margin. The City Council Post 2 position was decided by 10 votes and the Post 4 seat by five votes. In Jeffersonville, the District 1 City Council seat was won by seven votes and the District 2 seat by a whopping 18 votes.

In Bibb County, the E-SPLOST passed, which is a good thing, but only 6,251 voters decided a tax measure that could raise up to $180 million was important enough to head to the polls, roughly, less than 7.5 percent of registered voters. Next year there will be a slate full of local, state and national races to decide, and we hope voters don't wait until November to show up. They need to make their choices known throughout the process of primaries. If they don't, their preferred candidates may not be around in November.

We are always hearing about dangers to our republic. The biggest threat rests with an electorate that doesn't participate in the process of democracy.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 9:42 PM with the headline "EDITORIAL: Our nation's biggest threat ."