The turnout for Tuesday’s Memphis-only referendum on MCS charter surrender was about 17 percent.
Some people are saying that is abysmally low and signals a failing democracy in Memphis, apathy, confusion, ignorance, or all of the above. Some say that given the rain and the single-issue referendum, a turnout of 17 percent isn’t too bad.
Well, “not too bad” is pretty faint praise. Rain? So what? Even if weather influences turnout whether it should or not, what about early voting? There were several sunny and warm days for early voting. People who didn’t vote simply made a choice not to vote or didn’t even know there was an election.
Historically, turnout in Memphis and Shelby County is trending downward since 1968, according to Shelby County Election Commission records.