VIDALIA — Voters will make their way to the polls today to decide the future of their towns’ leaders and possibly the nation.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today for the parish’s municipal primaries and the Democratic and Republican Party presidential preference election.

On the ballot are mayoral and aldermen races in Clayton, Ferriday and Vidalia, as well as chief of police in Clayton and Vidalia.

Also on the ballot are parish and state-level party positions for the Democratic and Republican parties.

After early voting ended last Saturday, 390 votes had been cast, 304 of those in person and 86 by mail, according to the Registrar of Voter’s Office, which oversees early voting.

Trends in early voting are generally considered to be a good prediction of how the general election will turn out.

The Concordia Parish Clerk of Court’s Office does not expect to see a huge turnout today, Chief Deputy Clerk of Court Becky Zerby said.

“We were all kind of surprised at the low turnout with early voting,” Zerby said.

The clerk’s office does not expect many non-municipal voters to turn out and vote in the presidential preference primaries, Zerby said.

“A lot of Republicans aren’t really excited about the ticket,” she said.

In early voting, 17 votes were cast in the Clayton municipal elections, 99 were cast in the Ferriday elections and 209 votes went to the Vidalia election.

The rest of the votes were from voters in unincorperated areas of the parish.

To vote, bring a generally recognized picture ID such as a driver’s license or a Louisiana Special ID to the polls.

Voters without a picture ID may bring a utility bill, payroll check or government document that includes their name and address on it. Voters who choose to vote this way will have to sign an affidavit affirming the information is correct.

Only voters affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties may vote in the presidential preference polls or in the party elections.

Municipal elections are open to all voters.