On the eve of the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act and in Selma, the home of the demonstration that pushed a reluctant nation toward equality — in this place — the group, Organizing for America, set up a rally Thursday night at the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.

The goal: Work the telephones, polling to see who is registered to vote and helping those who are not.

Only one person showed up to work the telephones.

One person.

While this should not come as a surprise, it is indicative of the laziness we have about exercising our right to vote; to making sure the democratic process is fair and equal and whole.

Obviously, many do not care about registering or ensuring those who are not registered to vote have their names on the rolls.

This is the home of the right to vote and less than half of the voters exercise that right during any given election. Remember, in an election last year to decide whether to have an elected school board, about 2 percent of the voters in Selma decided.

Ironic, isn’t it?

It would seem that this anniversary would be better spent with voter education and registration cards in hand.