When it comes to voter turnout, Sampson County doesn’t always have such good results. That’s particulary true of primaries, where, during our last one in 2008, less than 10 percent of the voting public made it to the polls.

It’s a sad fact, particularly since some major decisions are made duirng primary elections.

Firstly, there are school board races, always held in May. Those are big seats to fill. After all it is those folks who hold our children’s futures in their hands, and to allow so few to make decisions for so many makes little to no sense.

Yet, that’s exactly what happens.

Take a look at the numbers. According to local Board of Elections data, in the May 2008 primary, 3,055 people cast ballots out of the 54,357 people who could. That ultimately means that a handful of people across Sampson County made vital decisions we’ve all had to live with since.

It’s hard to fathom that just over 3,000 people held this county’s future decisions in their hands while the rest of us sat back, likely complained, but did nothing to effect change of any sort, even if we believed change was necessary.

The same is true of those who were satisfied with the status quo. They, too, allowed a minute number of voters to decide whether things were OK as they were or whether new faces and fresh approaches were the order of the day.

We hope that doesn’t happen come May 4, or starting April 15, when early voting begins.

There are far too many important decisions to be made, among them the school board races, but also choices for Democratic or Republican candidates in everything from state Senate races to county commissioner seats and sheriff’s contenders.

There are seven people running for three seats on the Clinton City Board of Education, and five vying for three spots on the county school board. There’s a Republican challenger squaring off against an incumbent GOP commissioner, as well as a Democratic newcomer looking to upset a current commissioner; we have two Senate 10 Democrats — one from Sampson and one from Lenoir — looking for a shot at the November race against one of two N.C. Senate 10 Republicans — one from Sampson and one from Lenoir; and we have two Democratic sheriff’s opponents looking for a shot at the November race against GOP incumbent Jimmy Thornton.

Important decisions all, and worthy of the little time it will take to cast a ballot.

Early voting begins Thursday. Times are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.; Fridays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. except the final Saturday, May 1, when early voting will end at 1 p.m.

There are multiple oppoturnities to vote. One just needs to do so.

We believe it’s well worth your time. All our futures depend on it.