NATCHEZ &045; Voters, election officials and candidates alike said Monday that much rides on today’s party primaries.

As a former alderman himself, A. Vidal Davis knows that firsthand &045; and he is taking his responsibility as a voter no less seriously.

&uot;Of course, the economy is the big thing&uot; voters are paying attention to this year, Davis said, &uot;but integrity is also an issue &045; how you vote on the tough issues, even when it’s not politically popular.&uot;

And even at the last minute, most candidates were working hard to convince voters that they were the ones to be trusted with such a responsibility.

Those who could be reached Monday said they were out shaking hands, putting up signs, finalizing post-primary plans and even buying additional radio and television advertising Monday afternoon.

&uot;I guess that’s a good sign &045; they’re not at home sitting by the swimming pool,&uot; Pat Dickens, chairwoman of the Adams County Republican Committee, said about candidates in that party’s primary.

Perhaps that’s not surprising, considering how much is at stake. At least four races &045; circuit clerk, tax assessor, Northern District constable and Northern District justice court judge &045; will be decided outright tonight.

And four others &045; District 3 and 5 supervisors, Southern District constable and Southern District justice court judge &045; will be decided by the end of run-off elections Aug. 26. The general election will be held Nov. 4.

If candidates weren’t relaxing Monday, neither were election officials. At the Election Commissioners’ Office, personnel were making sure poll workers got the materials they needed, down to checking out telephones for each precinct.

Both election officials and candidates fielded calls from voters confused about the location of polling places &045; particularly Bellemont.

Voters in that precinct will now vote at Natchez Ford-Lincoln-Mercury on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive instead of Natchez Lawn and Tractor or the old armory.

County road crews were even scheduled to put up large signs at Natchez Lawn and Tractor directing confused voters to the car dealership.

Personnel in the Circuit Clerk’s Office have said that voting might be slow this year, judging from absentee ballot numbers. &uot;We just encourage people to get out and vote,&uot; said Deputy Circuit Clerk Marge Alexander.

With plenty of choices on the ballot and good weather expected today, Election Commission Larry Gardner said he hopes that prediction is wrong.

&uot;Look at (candidates’) qualification and the promises they’ve made, because these are the people who will lead our government into the future,&uot; Gardner said.

&uot;Like they say, you have no right to complain about how government works if you don’t exercise the right to choose who our leaders are.&uot;