Political Sheet

Turnout tanks. Apathy rises. Extremes win. Weld, this is how you lose your voice.

Turnout tanks. Apathy rises. Extremes win. Weld, this is how you lose your voice.
Turnout tanks. Apathy rises. Extremes win. Weld, this is how you lose your voice.
Written by Scott K. James

Greeley Tribune says Weld turnout may hit 30 percent. When citizens sit out, the extremes clock in. Citizenship is a contact sport, not a couch activity.

The Greeley Tribune’s Tyler Duncan reports that Weld County voter turnout could sink to about 30 percent in the 2025 election. Chief Deputy Clerk Rudy Santos says the quiet polling places point to the county’s lowest participation in at least five years.

The story notes that as of Monday night only about one in five active voters had cast a ballot. Last year’s presidential race brought nearly 71 percent turnout, while a comparable local cycle in 2021 landed around 31 percent. In short, today looks sleepy, and sleepy elections invite surprise outcomes.

The Bullet Point Brief

• Weld’s turnout is projected around 30 percent. That is a civic yawn, not a chorus.
• Only 20.3 percent had voted by Monday night. Coasting into Election Day is how you get blindsided.
• Last year hit nearly 71 percent. This year could dip below 2021’s 31 percent. The slide is real.
• Five Greeley council seats, multiple school boards, and tax questions are on the line. Local choices hit your street first.
• Clerks prepare for 100 percent turnout. Voters are preparing for Netflix. That gap elects extremes.

My Bottom Line

Apathy is a dangerous thing. Low participation leads to extreme candidates. Jefferson’s warning still bites. The people get the government they deserve. Citizenship is not a spectator sport. If you sit out, you hand the steering wheel to whoever bothered to show up.

I love my neighbors, but we need some tough love here. Ballots are not decorative. They are tools. Use them. Fill them out. Drop them off. Make the calls. Drag a friend. If you want sensible leadership on streets, schools, spending, water, and growth, then vote like it. Otherwise, do not be shocked when the loudest voices set the agenda while the majority sits on the couch.


Source: Greeley Tribune

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.