Whether you loved him or hated him, you cannot deny the influence Viktor Orban has had on the world during his time in politics — nor the iron grip he had on his own country’s electoral machine.

And yet, on Sunday, the people of Hungary decided that, after 16 years in office, enough was enough. Despite time as — at first — a popular incumbent followed by time as — at second — an authoritarian who bent the system to give himself every edge to stay in power…in the end, none of it mattered.

The election in Hungary shows that the will of the people remains powerful.

Pundits have made much of the ascension of populism and authoritarianism throughout much of the world over the last few decades.

And make no mistake, eternal vigilance remains, as ever, the price of liberty, to paraphrase John Philpot Curran.

But that it is a price that people remain willing to pay — we are as heartened as we are surprised.

We have written in the past about the onerous mix of laziness and apathy that burdens the American voting body.

According to Pew Research summaries of the 2020, 2022 and 2024 elections — all of which, as national election years, had higher turnout rates — roughly one out of every four Americans didn’t vote.

Of Americans who did vote during that four-year window, only 41% voted in all three elections.

In remarks during his recent visit to Avenue 209, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized the power county residents have in steering decisions that impact them.

“I’m here today because I think you’ve got real power and real responsibility,” he said.

We agree.

The cornerstone of our government rests on an educated and motivated populace.

Today, much of that populace is despondent (and we won’t talk about education rates, which could fill multiple editorials). The slow-moving gears of bureaucracy mixes poorly with high-octane American culture, especially in an era of social media and fast food providing nigh-instant gratification.

That isn’t how government really works. One of the reasons President Trump remains popular is because he is seen as being effective at punching through the red tape and actually effectuating his agenda.

Trump, however, is an outlier here, and the methods of his effectiveness are unlikely to be followed by future governments because he has, in many cases, exchanged norms, decorum and the rule of law for accomplishment.

There are arguments both for and against that — but that isn’t the topic at hand.

If we have one takeaway here, it’s this:

If you’re an American of voting age, it is critical that you don’t lose hope. Whatever values you hold, if you wish to effect change, you need to know that you can, in fact, do it. It may not feel like you can. The status quo can feel insurmountable.

But Orban’s defeat, 16 years in the making, doesn’t happen if people lose hope. It doesn’t happen if people stop trying.

Show up and vote. Whatever your stances, opinions or special interests — our nation is at its best when our voices are used.

And if someone tries to tell you that it never makes a difference, nothing ever happens, voting doesn’t matter or any of that type of doom-and-gloom talk…remind them of the fall of Viktor Orban.

Remind them that, no matter how it may feel, We The People still have the power.

We need only use it.