NATCHEZ — Little national attention and even less campaign money centered on races in Adams County and Concordia Parish Tuesday, leaving local voters feeling a bit out of the exciting national election hoopla.

But even though the local elections weren’t going to swing the Senate or the House political pendulums left or right, Miss-Lou residents headed to the polls filled with a sense of duty and plenty of opinions about the national races.

Vidalia resident Candace Clark said Tuesday afternoon she hoped the Republicans won back both the House and Senate.

“I feel like this is going to bring back control to the country,” she said. “It will get things going back the way they should.”

Clark said the Democratic majority has had its opportunity to garner results, and time has run out.

“You can only give someone so many chances,” she said. “With the deficit the way it is, we can’t keep spending. It’s time to give someone else a chance.”

But Vidalia resident Hank Johnson said he believes the Democrats just need more time to get results.

“They walked into a mess whenever they got there,” he said. “It takes more than two years to fix eight years worth of damage.”

Johnson said with the Republicans making a strong push to take over control, it should force the Democrats to realize something needs to be done.

“A lot of people are unhappy,” he said. “This could be the jump-start the country needs for change to happen, and the Democratic leaders need to realize that.”

A heated national political scene likely drove more voters to the polls everywhere, something Adams County Election Commissioner Larry Gardner said certainly happened in Natchez.

“It seems the electorate woke up,” Gardner said.

Gardner said he expected a 20- to 25-percent turnout based on absentee votes and since only one contested election was on the ballot. By Tuesday afternoon, he predicted a 30 to 35 percent turnout. The final turnout ended up being 35.38 percent Tuesday.

For Vidalia voter Cassandra Lynch, it’s not politics that matter.

“We need to stop focusing on what party we are voting on and get some consistency,” she said. “People need to be fair and consistent. It doesn’t matter what your party is.”

With the nation focusing on swing votes in certain areas, and major proposition votes in others, Vidalia resident Virge Jackson said voters need to pay attention to the national scope instead of just the local elections.

“This election is covering a much larger area than where we are,” she said.

Natchez voters Betty and Bennie Gorum agreed. Betty Gorum said unhappiness with decisions being made in Washington probably encouraged local residents to vote. She said out-of-control spending and lack of jobs concerns her the most.

Bennie Gorum shared his wife’s concerns and thought they applied to the local level, as well. Local elections will not come until the fall for county government and next spring for the City of Natchez.

Bennie Gorum said he got out to vote Tuesday because it is his right and responsibility.

Gorum said he honestly did not know much about the Democrat and Reform Party candidates in the congressional race running against Republican Incumbent Gregg Harper because they did not advertise, but he wanted to lend his two cents at the polls.

“I’d like my vote to count,” Gorum said.

Bob Strader, who worked at the precinct at the courthouse, said the high number of voters to cast ballots Tuesday reflected a national emotion.

“People are just mad, they’ll vote for anything,” Strader said.

Bill Furlow, who voted at the Adams County courthouse, said he votes in every election, even though he is a Democrat in a primarily conservative district.

Furlow said he was interested to see what will happen if the Republicans take over the House majority after Tuesday’s election.

“Some (Republican winners) may have good ideas, some might complain, but as in any case, life goes on,” Furlow said.

“The world is not going to come to an end tonight, but it’s going to be interesting.”

Despite political leanings, the consensus across the Miss-Lou was simple — vote.

“Votes are always important,” Lynch said. “That’s your voice. You don’t use it, you don’t have one.”

Clark said if you have the ability to vote and you don’t use it, you don’t have the right to mock the government.

“I don’t feel like you can complain about what’s going on if you don’t vote,” she said. “It is very important to go out and give your opinion.”