Village elections in our region proved once again they are no model of American values and democracy. Besides the fact many races go uncontested, the bottom line is residents are not voting.

Consider some of these woeful numbers from last week:

¯ Cassadaga — 58 voters in a village of 611.

¯ Gowanda — 459 total votes for mayor in a village of 2,636.

¯ Sinclairville — 38 voters in a village of 565.

¯ South Dayton — 121 voters in a village of 594.

¯ Westfield — 178 votes for mayor in a village of 3,090.

Even worse is in the village of Sinclairville, the turnout of 39 people at the booths was something that was applauded. “This was a great turnout,” said Susan Peacock, village clerk. “Last year only 13 people voted. We are considering moving our elections to November to get more people (to the polls).”

Scarier yet would be a horrendous turnout in Sinclairville.

But Peacock brings up one point worth considering — the moving of the elections from March to November. Most villages have done this already and would have brought a minor savings on just running the elections alone.

Thanks to all who turned out, but in terms of numbers of voters to population in these entites, the turnout remains poor. Only 10 percent of the population is showing up at the polls.

There’s no way to celebrate that type of democracy.