Election officials on both sides of the river are predicting record voter turnout today.

Based on the number of absentee ballots cast, Adams County and Concordia Parish officials said the turnout could be large.

&uot;It’s been absolutely massive,&uot; Adams County Circuit Clerk M.L. &uot;Binkey&uot; Vines said of absentee voting, which wrapped up in office on Saturday. By Monday, about 1,600 absentee ballots had been cast in the county.

&uot;We worked all day Saturday and Sunday,&uot; Vines said. &uot;We’ll still be going until 8 o’clock (Monday night).&uot;

Vines said the office had been fielding phone calls all day from voters wondering where to go to the polls.

&uot;I expect, based on the phone calls, a tremendous turnout,&uot; Vines said.

In Concordia Parish, Clerk of Courts Clyde Ray Webber said he expects a turnout of about 65 percent to 70 percent.

&uot;There’s a lot going on,&uot; Webber said.

Concordia Parish has not only the presidential race on the ballot but also a Senate race and a Congressional race, as well as four constitutional amendments.

Senate candidates are:

4Richard M. Fontanesi

4R.A. &uot;Skip&uot; Galan

4Chris John, D

4John Kennedy, D

4Sam Houston Melton, Jr., D

4Arthur A. Morrell, D

4David Vitter, R

Congressional candidates are:

4Rodney Alexander, R

4Zelma &uot;Tisa&uot; Blakes, D

4John W. &uot;Jock&uot; Scott, R

Locally, two taxes are up for renewal &045;&045; a 1-cent sales and use tax for Ferriday and a 10-year, 13-mill renewal for the Concordia Parish School District.

The school board tax would be from 2005 to 2014 and would be designated for construction and general fund operations.

The Ferriday tax would be designated for general operational expenses as well as capital improvements.

Both taxes are up for renewal, meaning citizens have already been paying them. They do not mean citizens will see a tax increase.

In Adams County, only one local race is contested &045;&045; the Supervisor District 5 election commissioner spot, in which incumbent Bob Barrett faces Mitch Ballard.

Some voters in Adams County will also select a Third District Congressional representative, with incumbent Chip Pickering facing a little-known field.

Adams County voters, who are part of the Southern district, will also choose a Supreme Court justice, with Mike Randolph and Joe Lee on the ballot.

And Adams County voters, along with all of Mississippi, will vote on a marriage amendment.

Vines said he has received several calls from voters who are confused by the amendment.

The constitutional amendment states that marriage is valid only if it is between a man and a woman. Therefore, voting &uot;yes&uot; to the amendment is essentially a vote against gay marriage.

Vines said he is encouraging those whose names are not on the voter rolls to vote an affidavit ballot in case their names were removed from the rolls by mistake.