All of Natchez is about to attend a political wedding of sorts, and each of us should do our part to get ready for the momentous occasion.

City voters head to the polls next week to choose between several candidates in a Democratic runoff. And fortunately if you’ve missed out on much of the campaign up until now, it’s not too late to get involved — as long as you are a registered voter.

Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce will offer a forum for the four runoff candidates at the Isle of Capri Hotel on Canal Street.

We think the Chamber folks deserve our thanks for putting together another potentially insightful program that offers voters one last chance to perform a side-by-side comparison of the candidates.

And such a comparison is important.

On the runoff ballot will be two candidates for mayor and two candidates for city clerk. Since the two leading mayoral candidates are Democrats, the winner of next Tuesday’s runoff election will likely become our next mayor. But nothing is for certain, since an independent candidate will still be on the general election ballot in June.

The city clerk’s race also has an independent candidate on the ballot and will likely be a close race in June.

So the wedding stage is set.

The names of those in the bridal party is already determined and now the matter is all up to the voters.

With Thursday’s political forum set to offer voters another opportunity to get to know the candidates, only apathy can prevent voters from making wise and informative choices at the ballot box.

And as is customary before matrimonial ties are made, we feel the need to say — to our entire city — speak now, or forever hold your peace. Or at least for another four years.