Although municipal elections in Beaufort County, for the most part, tend to be low-key affairs and devoid of excitement, that’s not always the case.

This election cycle, the mayoral and aldermen races in Belhaven drew plenty of candidates and attention. Incumbent Belhaven Mayor Adam O’Neal, who wants to reopen the town’s hospital, held off a challenge by Ricky Radcliffe, who supports letting the hospital remain closed and allowing a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week clinic handle medical care in the town. However, the two incumbents seeking re-election to the Belhaven Board of Aldermen, Vic Cox and Robert L. Stanley appear to have lost their seats.

In Chocowinity, M.L. Dunbar and Arlene D. Jones, veteran members of the Board of Commissioners for decades, lost their seats to Curt Jenkins and Casey T. Langley in what could be termed an upset.

In Washington, newcomer Virginia Finnerty surprised herself and others by being the top vote-getter in the City Council race. Finnerty said that during door-to-door campaign stops voters told her they would vote for her because she is a fresh face and would bring diversity (a woman) to the council.

Finnerty carried the Washington 1 and Washington 4 precincts and she collected the most votes during the early voting period. Finnerty and Richard Brooks were the top vote-getters in the Washington 2 precinct, each collecting 140 votes.

Voters returned the four incumbents — William Pitt, Richard Brooks, Doug Mercer and Larry Beeman — to their seats for another two years

According to the Beaufort County Board of Elections, 2,164 of the 9,611 registered voters — 22.52 percent — in the county’s seven municipalities voted during the Nov. 3 general election or earlier by submitting absentee ballots or taking part in early voting. That’s disheartening — a little more than one-fifth of the eligible voters determining who gets elected. There’s no mandate there.

As for those voters who marked ballots, they should be thanked for exercising their right to vote and having a say in who will govern them locally.

Not happy with Tuesday’s results? Then be sure to vote during the next municipal election cycle in two years.

You might just make a difference.