NATCHEZ — Nine thousand three hundred and seventy people practiced their most basic right as a United States citizen Tuesday.

They voted.

This year’s state and county partisan primary election boasted a 24.3 percent turnout.

“That’s higher than I expected,” said Evelyn Smith, who represents District 3 in the Adams County Election Commission.

Smith said she was expecting, at most, 20 percent of voters in Natchez and Adams County to cast their ballot Tuesday.

Of those 9,370 votes, approximately 690 were absentee votes, which is lower than years past.

Throughout the day, however, election commission members could tell that day-of voting would be strong.

“I think the whole world turned out to vote,” said Katye Dukes, who represents District 4 for the commission.

Tracy Gaude, District 1 representative, agreed.

“We’re having an excellent turnout,” Gaude said at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday from the county courthouse precinct. “We’ve been really busy.”

While many came through the courthouse doors to cast their vote, Mitch Ballard — who lent a helping hand in the absence of commission member Larry Gardner, who underwent unexpected heart surgery Monday — said the day went just as he predicted, busy.

“I’ve done this before, and it’s always hectic,” Ballard said while waiting for precinct results at 9:15 p.m. from the courthouse.

And while elections are usually synonymous with long days of casting ballots and sometimes-stressful nights tallying votes, 86-year-old Leona Burns Carter said she always comes out to cast her vote.

Since age 18, Carter said she has practiced her right to vote.

“I worked in a public office for years, so I know how important it is to vote,” Carter said Tuesday while being helped out of her wheelchair.

And for other voters, like recent Natchez High School graduate Jasmine Winding, Election Day held importance for a very different reason.

“That was my first time to vote,” 18-year-old Winding said after casting her ballot at the District 3, Palestine precinct.

Winding said she had watched her parents vote, and she knew once she was of age, she would cast her ballot, too.

“I think more people my age should get out there and vote,” said Winding, who is attending Alcorn State University in the fall. “Every vote matters. I know mine did.”

Cai Hamilton, who voted at the county courthouse, said she votes simply because it’s her right.

“I’ve been voting since I was 18, and now I’m 50,” Hamilton said. “Once you turn 18, you ought to vote. It’s the best part of America.”

While watching voters young and old, black and white, cast their ballot, poll worker Jeanette Warren said seeing residents voice their opinion by voting Tuesday brought a smile to her face.

“Most Natchez people are interested in the local elections,” Warren said. “It’s been really nice to see this turnout.”