Local residents turn out better on Election Day than do those in most other parts of our states. While the voter turnout percentage for West Virginia on Nov. 5 was 63.35%, according to the Secretary of State’s office, turnout in Wood County was 67.19%. And while unofficial turnout in Ohio on Nov. 5 was 69.69%, according to the Secretary of State’s office, in Washington County turnout was 72.02%.

Registered voters should not look at such figures and believe they are justified if they sat this one out, or that there’s no need for them to show up next time.

Sure, with that kind of participation, an individual’s vote might not have made much difference in the votes for national-level offices. But here we have a couple of excellent examples of how EVERY vote matters.

In Parkersburg, even after the canvass of votes, a representative of the Wood County Clerk’s office said results did not change. That means William “Zak” Huffman unseated incumbent Councilman J.R. Carpenter for the Parkersburg City Council District 5 seat by a mere THREE votes.

Three of the individuals who cast their votes mattered a great deal to Huffman.

In Washington County, the board of elections is forced to set a date for an automatic recount of votes for or against whether Par Mar Store 4, at 1300 State Route 7 in New Matamoras, would be allowed to sell liquor on Sundays. After the official canvass, that vote stood at 157 in favor to 156 opposed. It is likely the ONE extra person who decided to get out and vote in that precinct made all the difference for Par Mar and New Matamoras.

As is the case with most things, your votes matter more at the local level than they do in Washington, D.C. That is why it is so important for as many people to make their voices heard as possible.

Again, local folks did turn out in huge numbers; and we can be proud of that. But there is — always — room to aim higher.