Another election, another case of low voter turnout in West Virginia.

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, statewide voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary election was a measly 30%. That’s less than 1 in 3 registered voters in this state taking the time to be part of the process of electing candidates.

Our local counties fared little better. Randolph County had 35.99% turnout; Upshur County, 39.40%; Barbour County, 36.90%; Tucker County, 34.31%; and Pocahontas County, 38.48%.

Turnout was this low despite every county having contested elections.

Randolph County’s 35.99% turnout was 15th best in West Virginia. The worst turnout came in one of the state’s largest counties, Berkeley, where just 16,323 of the county’s 91,529 registered voters turned out. That’s 17.8%.

We have a chance to do better in November — and we must. Voting is core to being an engaged citizen who is working to better your community.