In an effort to get more registered voters to the polls this past Tuesday in Ragland, citizens of the town banded together and went all out to make sure their voices were heard in electing the county’s new district judge.Mayor Gary Daffron called it a disorganized group that was not supporting any one particular candidate.
After only 261 registered voters cast ballots in the June primary, area churches, businesses and citizens said they were tired of the low voter turnout at these important elections, not only in Ragland but all across the county and state.
Tuesday, there were 260 votes cast by 1:10 p.m. according to Mayor Gary Daffron. All total, xxx votes were cast in Ragland.
Incentives for Ragland voters included:
O Free lemonade.
O Show the “I Voted” sticker and receive a 12-ounce pack of Gwaltney red wieners free from the Food Barn.
O Bring the “I Voted” sticker to Sam’s Food Market and get 10 percent off the grocery purchase, minimum of $50 purchase.
O Those who voted were able to sign up for a cash drawing to be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the walking track. The amount of cash that will be given away is determined on the number of votes.
If there are 500 people who cast votes Tuesday, the cash reward is $50. If 1,500 people voted, the cash reward is $1,000.
According to former Ragland Mayor Joan Ford, who is a member of Hardin’s Chapel Bible Church, the cash came from individual donations.
Daffron said there are between 1,900 and 2,000 registered voters in the Ragland precinct.
“We are concerned about the low voter turnout,” said Daffron. “We are doing whatever we can to get people to the polls. I don’t know of anyone in the county or state who is putting forth this kind of effort. There have been so many people who volunteered their time to make this a success.”
Jerry Sue Brannon, the polling inspector for Beat 9 in Ragland, said the turnout of voters was great.
“The effort was tremendous and I think it is going to pay off,” Brannon said. “I think it already has.”
Daffron said it has been wonderful to see the cohesiveness that has formed in this community due to this effort to get people out and vote.
“We’ve had churches mention it on their signs, people volunteer to provide transportation to and from the polls and so much more,” Daffron said. “It’s just amazing. I want people to understand our vote still matters. That’s the only thing that keeps us free.”
St. Clair County Probate Judge Wallace Wyatt Jr. said it sounds like the citizens of Ragland are attempting to get more people to come out and vote and that’s it.
“It is something new,” Wyatt said. “I’ve never heard of anything like this.
If everything is on the up and up, we may be on to something.”
