NATCHEZ &8212; Election Commissioner Larry Gardner isn&8217;t expecting long lines at Adams County polls Tuesday.

Typically, primaries for statewide seats don&8217;t draw a crowd, and the Democratic primary for Sen. Trent Lott&8217;s seat should be no different, Gardner said.

The ballot has no local names and there was no heavy campaigning in Natchez &8212; things Gardner said he suspects will keep voters at home.

&8220;If you look at the Senate race held six years ago, you would find that voter turnout was lower than 10 percent,&8221; Gardner said. &8220;I think that Tuesday&8217;s will be lower than that.&8221;

Voters in Adams County who cast ballots in 2000 decided on three different races that year &8212; the presidential race, primary elections for House seats and a Senate primary.

But Gardner said he thinks Tuesday may be just what his office needs.

A low turnout Tuesday will bring a chance to troubleshoot potential problems with the new touch-screen-voting machines.

&8220;No matter how many times we introduce new voting technology, we still run into problems with them,&8221; Gardner said. &8220;Even though we have many machines we plan only to have one or two at each of the 20 precincts. This way it&8217;s easier to solve problems we might have.&8221;

Candidates include: Erik Fleming of

Jackson, who served as a representative from 1999 to the present.

Catherine M. Starr, of Hattiesburg, is a political activist. Starr, a retiree of South Central Bell, ran for governor in 2003. Starr also

unsuccessfully ran

for mayor of Hattiesburg twice.

Bill Bowlin, from Hickory Flat, was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for Congress in 1994 but lost.

James O&8217;Keefe, of Long Beach has been president of Bradford-O&8217;Keefe Funeral Homes and owner and operator of Gulf Printing and Advertising.

In November, Adams County citizens will cast ballots again for three different races including: Chip Pickering, who is running unopposed for representative, and the winner of Tuesday&8217;s race will run against Republican Senator Trent Lott.

There will also be a Mississippi judge&8217;s race although these races will be run on a non-partisan base.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p. m.