NATCHEZ — Based on the number of absentee ballots cast for today’s primary runoff races, election officials say they expect voter turnout to be less than the Aug. 4 primary.

Adams County Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker said his office counted 453 absentee ballots for the Democratic runoff and 3 absentee ballots for the Republican runoff Monday afternoon. The total absentees cast was 234 total votes less than the 690 absentee ballots cast during the primary.

Of the county’s 19,319 registered voters, 48.5 percent of the voters cast ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries on Aug. 4.

Walker said he hopes to see a higher voter turnout today during the runoff election, but believes a higher turnout is unlikely based on the absentees.

“The ballot is small this time, albeit some important races are still on the ballot,” Walker said.

Five local races are on the Democratic ballot, including races for sheriff, chancery clerk, District 5 supervisor and constable races in both the northern and southern districts of the county.

In the race for sheriff, Randy Freeman faces Travis Patten. The winner of the Democratic runoff will face independent candidate Elvis Prater in the Nov. 3 general election.

Brandi Lewis faces Joe Murray in the race for county chancery clerk. The winner of the runoff will win the election.

In the race for Adams County Supervisor in District 5, incumbent Calvin Butler faces former supervisor Spanky Felter. The winner of the Democratic runoff will face Republican candidate Grady Wilson in the general election.

In the county constable races, Willie B. Jones and Deselle Mody-Davis face each other in the northern district runoff and Matthew Freeman and Adam Kirk face off in the southern district.

Voters in State Senate District 37 will also cast ballots in the Democratic runoff. They will decide between Angela Baker Brooks and Tammy Witherspoon.

Only one state race is included in the Republican runoff. Sam Britton and Tony Smith face off in the Republican runoff for Southern District Public Service Commissioner. No local races are on the Republican ballot.

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

Voters who voted in a particular party in the Aug. 4 election cannot cross party lines.

Those residents are required by law to vote in the same party’s second primary election when they cast their ballots today.

Those who did not vote in the first primary can vote in the runoff.

The voters will be required to choose in which party, Democratic or Republican, they wish to vote.