NATCHEZ — After months of watching the process unfold at a national stage, with candidates entering and then dropping out of the race, Mississippi voters will have their chance to say who they want to be their party’s presidential nominee Tuesday.

Absentee voting has been ongoing since mid-February, and is often considered a harbinger of what the volume of voter turnout will be on Election Day. If that’s the case, this election isn’t getting much interest locally.

“I haven’t seen many (absentee voters),” Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker said. “There hasn’t been a big turnout at all.”

Despite the low early turnout, Natchez-Adams County Republican Party member Pat Dickens said the race is getting a lot of attention on the streets.

“I think there is a great deal of interest not just within the party but in the community at large who are curious about the outcome,” Dickens said.

“There is never a perfect candidate, and in some ways people are probably wishing a lot of the controversy would get over with, but I feel like it helps clarify the candidates.

“I think the process right now is important, and the best candidate will emerge.”

Local GOP organizer Johnny Junkin said the Miss-Lou’s Republicans don’t appear to be coalescing around any one candidate.

“I haven’t heard a lot of interest one way or the other for one candidate over the other,” Junkin said. “The one thing I have heard is that whoever the candidate is on the November ballot, be it candidate A, B or C, (Republican voters) will be there to vote for them against the current president.”

On the ballot are also races for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives Third District.

Mississippi has what are perhaps deceptively named open party primaries. The elections are not true open primaries in that voters will have to declare the party for which they wish to cast their ballot. Those who declare they want to vote Republican will only be able to vote for Republican candidates, and Democratic voters will only be allowed to vote for Democratic candidates. The ballot declaration, however, does not necessarily have to align with the voter’s personal party registration.

The same rules will apply, if necessary, during the April 3 run-off election. During the Nov. 6 general election, electors may cast their vote for any candidate, regardless of party.

Trying to cast a ballot in both party primaries is a misdemeanor offense. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Those who are qualified and wish to vote absentee can do so in person at the circuit clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to noon today. Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the clerk’s office no later than 5 p.m. Monday.

Despite the fact that some of the candidates have suspended their campaigns, the Republican Presidential ballot includes the following contenders:

• Michele Bachmann

• Newt Gingrich

• Jon Huntsman

• Gary Johnson

• Ron Paul

• Rick Perry

• Mitt Romney

• Rick Santorum

The Republican Senate primary is between:

• E. Allen Hathcock

• Robert Maloney

• Roger F. Wicker

The Republican House ticket includes:

• Robert J. Allen

• Gregg Harper

The Democratic presidential and congressional races are unopposed, with candidates Barack Obama and Crystal C. Biggs standing alone on their respective tickets. The Democratic Senate primary race will be between:

• Albert N. Gore Jr.

• Will Oatis

• Roger Weiner