Madison’s voter disengagement: a symptom of a rotten system, a warning and a call to action

The turnout in Madison’s recent municipal elections was shockingly low. Out of more than 46,000 registered voters, only 17% cast a ballot. The winner of the mayor’s race received support from just 10% of the electorate. That’s not a mandate — it’s a symptom of a broken system.

This isn’t apathy. It’s disillusionment. Many residents have stopped voting because they believe City Hall is controlled by a political machine that always gets its way. No matter who runs, the outcome feels predetermined. That belief — reinforced year after year — has driven people out of the process.

Worse, the governance culture in Madison has turned toxic. City leaders have too often treated residents with condescension, hostility, and disrespect. Questions are stonewalled, criticism is silenced, and transparency is nonexistent. People who should be heard are instead intimidated. This isn’t healthy democracy. It’s a warning sign of authoritarian drift.

But disengagement doesn’t have to define Madison’s future. Citizens are frustrated, yes — but they are also watching. To restore trust, our leaders must change course. That means ending secrecy, embracing transparency, and welcoming the hard questions that make government accountable. It means listening to residents with respect, not contempt.

If City Hall can find the humility to treat its citizens as true partners in governance, then voter confidence — and voter turnout — can return. The alternative is continued decline into a city where the majority has given up. Madison deserves better than a government that survives only because people have given up hope. The choice is clear, and the time to act is now.

Hanu Karlapalem is a former Madison mayoral candidate in 2016, former Limestone County Commissioner candidate.