Getting Voters to Turn Out for Special Elections: Challenge Accepted

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- It might not be November, but in Starkville, it is Election time.

In just over a month voters will be lining up to cast an important ballot.

But getting those voters out can be a challenge.

Mayor Lynn Spruill says she is using every avenue to get the word out about the special election.

The Starkville 1% restaurant and hotel tax is one step closer to going into effect. Not only that, the Ward 5 seat on the Board of Aldermen is empty.

These sound like important issues, but it can still be a challenge to get people to take notice and take to the polls.

“Well it is going to be tough, and in particular for the referendum, it’s a 60% requirement, so that is a high high hurdle for us to meet,” said Mayor Spruill.

In addition to the traditional yard signs, Mayor Spruill is turning to new ways to get the word out.

“I also spend time on social media trying to make people understand what we’re trying to do with this. So I’m trying to get out there and tell people via social media whether it’s Facebook or it’s Twitter or just word-of-mouth because I spend a lot of time on the streets, I spend a lot of time in the parks. I’m gonna start doing a podcast for the city because I think that’s a cool thing and a new way to get information out just general information from the city perspective, but in this case it’s an opportunity to talk about the referendum and what it means,” said Mayor Spruill.

Creating a podcast means appealing to young adults.

“I got to get those young people out to vote because that’s one of the things that’s gonna be a problem. They’ve got to understand that voting matters. Presidential election is important, and it makes you feel like you’re participating but when the rubber hits the road is going to be in your local elections, and this is one of those,” said Mayor Spruill.

But is that motivation enough to get voters, especially young voters, to the polls?

“I don’t know but we got to do that at least one person at a time and every time I talk to a college group that’s one of the things I say is how very critical it is for you to get out and cast your vote,” said Mayor Spruill.

The special election is on Thursday, May 30th. The first day to vote absentee is Friday, May 10th.