Natchez voters have a chance again today to take part in the municipal election process with the Democratic primary runoff for mayor and city judge.

But perhaps another civics lesson is in order, since the election process can be a bit difficult to understand.

The Democratic and Republican parties hold primaries to determine their nominees for the general election, which will be held on June 8. Some voters have been confused about the date since this is also a presidential election year, but that election day in November is completely different from our local election.

Party primaries held two weeks ago in the mayor’s and city judge’s race led to today’s runoff because no one candidate in either race earned a majority of the vote.

So today, incumbent Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith will face state Rep. Phillip West at the polls. Neither man will be elected tonight, however, because the winner will face a Republican &045; Sue Stedman &045; and an independent candidate &045; Richard Branyan &045; in the general election June 8.

The city judge’s race, however, will be decided tonight, as Jim Blough and Patricia Dunmore face off in the runoff. Because there are no Republicans or independents in the race, either Blough or Dunmore can be assumed to be the winner of the race.

Remember: If you voted as a Democrat in the primary, you must vote as a Democrat in today’s runoff. But if you did not vote in the primary two weeks ago, you can still vote in the runoff today.

The most important thing to remember is simply to vote. We must all make our voices heard if democracy is to work at its most effective level.