NATCHEZ — Voters across the nation will take to the polls today to elect the next president of the United States, and local officials are hoping the race to the White House will drive voters to the polls.

Adams County Election Commissioner Larry Gardner and Concordia Parish Chief Deputy Clerk of Court Rebecca Zerby said presidential elections typically draw more voters to the polls than any other state or local race.

When President Obama won in 2008, Adams County voter turnout was 75 percent, Gardner said. Based on the 1,700 absentee ballots that have been turned in, Gardner said he is anticipating voter turnout will be approximately 65 percent. Approximately 2,900 absentee ballots were requested in 2008, Gardner said.

Gardner said Adams County has approximately 21,000 registered voters, an increase from four years ago despite a population decrease.

“Whether those voters go to the polls, we’ll have to see,” he said.

Results from Adams County and Concordia Parish are transmitted electronically to each state’s secretary of state’s office to be added to the national tally.

Gardner and Zerby said if there are no problems with voting machines, results should be submitted between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. They both said, however, it could be later if they run into issues.

Adams County polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

In Adams County, voters will select a U.S. senator, a U.S. representative and a Supreme Court justice, in addition to the presidential race.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. in Concordia Parish

In Concordia Parish residents will also be choosing aldermen in Districts B and D in Ferriday, one Ridgecrest alderman and one school board member.

Gardner and Zerby agreed that polls are busiest in the morning until 9 a.m., from noon until 2 p.m. and after 5 p.m. because people generally vote before or after work or on their lunch break.

Adams County polling locations are:

Polling locations are:

District 1

• Bypass Fire Precinct, Bypass Fire Station, 467 John R. Junkin Drive

• Bellemont , Elks Lodge, 241 Lower Woodville Road

• Courthouse Precinct, 115 S. Wall St.

District 2

• Beau Pre Precinct, Church of Christ, 2 Beau Pre Road

• Duncan Park Precinct, Duncan Park Canteen, 57 Duncan Park Road

• Kingston Precinct, Kingston Fire Station, 575 Kingston Road

• Liberty Park Precinct, National Guard Armory, 329 Liberty Road

District 3

• Concord Precinct, Christian Hope Baptist Church, 301 Lasalle St.

• Maryland Heights Precinct, Maryland Heights Recreation Building, 111 Dumas Drive

• Steckler Building, 311 Liberty Road

• Palestine Precinct, Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Department, 1196 Liberty Road

District 4

• Carpenter Precinct, Rose Hill Baptist Church, 607 1/2 Madison St.

• Morgantown Precinct, Morgantown School, 101 Cottage Home Drive

• Northside Precinct, Frazier School, 1445 Geroge F. West Blvd.

• Pine Ridge Precinct, District 4 barn, 176 Foster Mound Road

• Thompson Precinct, Thompson School, 1038 N. Union St.

District 5

• Airport Precinct, airport fire house, 434 Airport Road

• Foster Mound Precinct, Dist rict 5 Fire Station, 228 Foster Mound Road

• Oakland Precinct, Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 65 Morgantown Road

• Washington Precinct, New Hope Baptist Church, 417 Morgantown Road

For more election information or to find out in which Adams County district you live, call the circuit clerk’s office at 601-446-6326.

For more information about voting in Concordia Parish, contact the clerk of court’s office at 318-336-4204.

The Democratic Committee of Adams County will be giving voters rides to polls today. To request a ride, call the headquarters at 601-334-0967.

The local Republican party has not organized volunteers to drive voters to the polls, Chair Sue Stedman said. But she said anyone needing a ride to the polls can contact her at 601-442-2286.