There’s always traffic on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In the rare moment when cars aren’t lined up at the red light at the intersection of Water Avenue and Broad Street, there’s usually someone walking over the historic bridge or a tour bus pulling up to take pictures in front of the spot where history was made.

The bridge stands for so much, not only to Selma but to the world.

Men and women bravely risked their lives on the landmark. Marchers were beaten and bloodied during Bloody Sunday, the most infamous day in Selma’s history.

Those in the city limits probably drive over the bridge at least once or twice a day — over the same spots where marchers stood tall and secured the right to vote for all.

Yet, voter turnout in Dallas County was abysmal during general elections in the fall. It wasn’t just a problem that plagued our area — the state of Alabama had its worst turnout in almost three decades — but that’s not the point. Voter turnout should never be an issue in Selma, where the valiant effort of the Foot Soliders and other courageous individuals refused to be told no and earned the right to vote for generations to come.

City and county leaders from along the stretch of road connecting Selma to Montgomery came together Friday to encourage people to vote. With the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday nearing, the leaders had one common message: Registering to vote is the best way to honor those who marched in 1965.

We couldn’t agree more. Never in Selma and Dallas County should voter turnout be in the 30 percentile or less.

There are a lot of groups honoring those who marched 50 years ago, but voting is the simplest way for to show gratitude for the sacrifices made.