Election officials in Dallas County predicted a 13 to 20 percent voter turnout for Tuesday’s special general U.S. Senate election.

Those numbers were way off. More than 14,000 voters went to the polls accounting for a nearly 45 percent turnout.

That number is remarkable for a one-race election. Only 16 percent of voters showed up in the primary, and eight percent showed up in the Republican runoff.

We’re glad Selma did its duty and went to the polls. It surely made a difference.