NATCHEZ &8212; Voters on both sides of the river will head to the polls today, but rains may affect the total turnout.

In Louisiana the House District 21 runoff was expected to draw a decent turnout, Clerk of Courts Clyde Ray Webber said.

&8220;The weather is going to make a little difference,&8221; Webber said. &8220;You just can&8217;t ever tell.&8221;

Typically voter turnout is smaller for a runoff, Webber said, but interest in this race may change that.

Candidates Andy Anders and Sam Thomas are vying to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Bryant Hammett.

&8220;We had 40 percent (in the primary), but because of the representatives race and the U.S. Congress race, I thought we&8217;d do a little better. It seems like people are working harder (to campaign).&8221;

On the Louisiana ballot for Congress are: incumbent Rodney Alexander-R, Gloria Williams Hearn-D, Brent Sanders-L and John Watts-Constitution Party.

Other issues on the ballot include a property tax increase for Monterey to fund the volunteer fire department and eight constitutional amendments.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

In Mississippi, no local contested elections are on the ballot, but Elections Commissioner Katye Dukes is holding out hope for voters anyway.

&8220;Some didn&8217;t vote in the primary, but I really think it will be more this time,&8221; she said.

Turnout in the primary was 4 percent.

U.S. Sen. Trent Lott is up for re-election. Erik Fleming-D and Harold Taylor-L are his opponents.

U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering is also facing two challengers, Jim Giles-I and Lamonic L. Magee-R.

The most competitive race is for court of appeals for the Fourth District. Larry Buffington, Virginia Carlton, Richard Grindstaff, Edward Patten Jr. and Scott Phillips are running for the seat.

Local judges on the ballot for re-election include:

County Court &8212; John N. Hudson

Chancery Court &8212; George Ward

Circuit Court, District 6-1 &8212; Lillie Blackmon Sanders

Circuit Court, District 6-2 &8212; Forrest &8220;Al&8221; Johnson

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.