NATCHEZ — Voters who plan to cast a ballot in the Aug. 4 primary election will have the opportunity to hear candidates discuss the issues July 13 and 14.

The Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce and The Natchez Democrat are hosting two County Candidate Forums, each from 5 to 8 p.m. those days at the Natchez Convention Center.

On Monday, candidates for constable positions, coroner, chancery clerk, tax assessor and sheriff will speak.

Tuesday will feature candidates for circuit clerk and those seeking county supervisor seats.

Debbie Hudson, president and CEO of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce, said hosting such forums is part of the chamber’s responsibilities.

“I feel it is part of our job to help educate our public. As good citizens, we need to know what our choices. We do this to encourage everybody to come out and learn and then go and vote,” she said.

This year’s forum is different than previous — broken into two nights — because of the sheer number of candidates involved.

“In the past we haven’t had four races for supervisors with three or four or five candidates each. There are more people involved this year,” Hudson said.

Candidates for each race will be given two minutes to introduce themselves. After that, they will be asked prepared questions.

“We are asking candidates to come to the Chamber board room about 15 minutes before the forum begins so they will draw a number to determine who will speak first and who will answer questions first,” said Crystal Moffett, office manager at the chamber.

The forum is free and candidates will be allowed to set up tables in the front foyer of the convention center one hour before the forum begins.

“We will not be taking questions from the floor, but anyone who has questions they want asked of the candidates, can email those questions to me, Debbie@natchezchamber.com,” Hudson said.