Everywhere you go lately, the buzz about the Natchez municipal elections is about how little buzz there actually is. Most people have said this is one of the quietest campaigns they’ve seen in some time.

Absentee ballots turned in by Monday numbered just more than 200.

All of this makes us fear what today’s turnout for party primaries might be.

Five candidates will be on the ballot for the Democratic nomination for mayor; another five will be vying for the city judge’s position. Several people are running for four different alderman seats.

We cannot say enough how important it is that everyone registered show up to vote today.

The simple phrase &uot;decisions are made by those who show up&uot; certainly applies to the voting process. If you don’t vote, not only can you not complain, you can’t have a say in who will make up your government.

This election season is extremely important for Natchez’s future.

We are at a tough time in our community’s history, and we need strong leadership to move forward.

But we also need everyone in the city to voice their opinions about what that leadership should be.

The next group of people to lead our community &045; in the mayor’s office, on the bench in city court and on the board of aldermen &045; should be chosen by the will of all the people, or at least a majority of them.