There are 13,500 registered voters in Butler County. Not even half of that number decided to take time out on Tuesday to vote in the primary election held throughout the state of Alabama.

In all, 5,484 people cast ballots for their candidates of choice - 4,634 in the Democratic primary, and 850 in the Republican. Local races proved the main draw for those who voted Democrat. Kenny Harden edged incumbent sheriff Diane Harris by 71 votes in a contest that wasn't really decided until the last precinct had been tallied. Probate Judge Steve Norman held a comfortable lead over his two challengers, John Hall and Charles Rogers, for most of the night. Former coroner Wayne Garlock won back his job by outrunning opponent Virgil Acreman. Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley swept the county out from under Don Siegelman in the race for governor on the Democrat's side, and Gov. Bob Riley held off the challenge of Judge Roy Moore in the GOP ticket.

The closeness of the sheriff's race ensures that some voters who could have cast their ballots on Tuesday will be second-guessing their choice to stay home for a long time.

And they should be.

As the Presidential election of 2002 showed us, one vote really does make a difference.

We hope the general election in November brings more of the county's voters to the polls. Voting is a civil right that should not be taken lightly.