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The numbers were staggering in more ways than one.

Out of 146,703 registered voters in Jefferson County, 35,239 cast their ballots. That’s 24.03 percent who either voted early in person, voted by mail or went to the polls during Super Tuesday.

Have we, as a society, gotten to a point that a majority of us — which would be 75.97 percent — care so less as to not take 20 or so minutes of our time to pick the person to represent the party of our choosing (or pick a person, period) to hold each seat? In some races, all the candidates represented one party, but even if that party isn’t yours or mine, that shouldn’t keep us from voting all together.

I’m no Cokie Roberts (Lord, rest her soul) or Chuck Todd, but the mathematics regarding a lack of voting in this county — a well-populated county, at that — are alarming. Someone like Roberts or Todd could further analyze the percentage of age groups that turned out, and I shudder to wonder which groups were more eager than not to vote around here.

The Texas Secretary of State website did not immediately have voter turnout statistics for Tuesday’s elections, but the numbers to the November 2018 gubernatorial elections provide a glimpse of an ongoing problem with registration and turnout. About 79 percent of the state’s 19,900,980 people of voting age (18 and older) registered, and of those 15,793,257 that registered, 53.01 percent, or 8,371,655, actually voted.

We lost lives for the right to vote, and these numbers are astonishing.

Thank heavens for precinct chairs, right? If you don’t know what these fine people do in these roles, give yourself a break. I didn’t know who they were until recently.

(I’m an editor, not a political analyst.)

That said, here’s your first lesson from newly elected Precinct 70 chair Anthony Cooper:

“The precinct chair acknowledges the process of voting and registers people to vote, but also is there to inform the people of the political arena, not necessarily to persuade any particular vote,” he said after Tuesday’s victory. “We continue to fight for these rights. Not only that, but to encourage the young folks and educate them on the importance of voting.”

If you’re confused who does what with each office, I’m sure we’ll clarify for you in the months ahead, or maybe you can ask the leaders themselves.

Precinct 2 Constable Christopher Bates would sure like to educate the public on his role.

Until then, all ye young folks, please learn your civics. Our country doesn’t evolve for lack of knowledge.

On a more local level, it’s a good thing newspapers like this one can play a part in educating the public about issues that citizens face the most and a little about the election process as well. If you didn’t know, election fever is just beginning.

Election days are more than just optional (and unofficial) holidays. They’re calls to action. We even have a few days in advance to heed the calls.

All that matters is that we do.

I.C. Murrell is the editor of The Port Arthur News. He can be reached at 409-721-2435 or at ic.murrell@panews.com