NATCHEZ — In the upcoming Aug. 6 primary elections some voters are caught over a barrel.

Some important local races will be decided in the primary election because only Democrats are running, including six local county offices: District 1 Adams County Supervisor, Adams County Northern District Constable, Adams County Southern District Constable, Northern District Justice Court Judge, Adams County Coroner and Adams County Prosecuting Attorney.

Also to be decided in the Aug. 6 primary is the race for Sixth District Attorney between incumbent Ronnie Harper and Shameca Collins who are both Democrats.

While no local races will be decided on the Republican tickets in the Aug. 6 primary, the heated governor’s race between Republicans Robert Foster, Tate Reeves and Bill Waller Jr. is gaining a lot of interest among voters.

In party primary elections, however, voters must declare a party — either Democrat or Republican — in the first primary, which this year is Aug. 6, and stick with that party through the primary runoff on Aug. 26.

If a voter declares the Democratic Party on Aug. 6 they cannot switch and vote in the Republican Party race during the Aug. 26 runoff and vice versa.

“The poll books are clearly printed for the run off to tell you exactly how they voted in the first primary,” said Larry Gardner, election commissioner.

Before going to the polls on Aug. 6, Adams County voters will have to choose which races they believe are most important to them, the local Adams County office races that will be decided in the primary or a chance to help the Republican Party decide which candidate will represent the Republican Party in the governor’s race in the Nov. 5 general election.

Former Natchez City Attorney Walter Brown said he has heard some confusion among voters on the topic.

“A lot of (voters) walk in there and get in the Republican booth and then they’ll say, ‘I want to vote for sheriff,’ and they say, ‘You can’t do that. You’re in the Republican booth,’” Walker said, alluding to the fact that none of the five candidates for Adams County are Republicans this year.

Johnny Junkin an Adams County Republican voter said he understands the dilemma some Adams County voters are facing, but he is going to vote Republican.

“I imagine a lot of people are having a hard time deciding, because they have to take care of their offices here,” Junkin said, adding he has heard from three or four people a day recently about the tough choice in the primaries. “I’ve been encouraging people to stay in the Democratic primary.”

Junkin said because of the important races on the Democratic ticket in Adams County, he believes a lot of Adams County voters have no choice but to vote in the Democratic primary.

“They’ve got to take care of whatever they think is most important,” Junkin said.

Brown said attempts to make Mississippi an open primary state have failed to meet United States Justice Department approval in the past and Junkin said the issue comes up every four years.

“You have just got to make your own choice,” Junkin said.

Gardner said only one precinct change occurred for this election. Voters in Kingston will now vote at the Kingston Community Center instead of the Kingston Fire Station, Gardner said.

Below is a list of Precincts in Adams County:

District 1

• Courthouse Precinct, Adams County Courthouse, 115 S. Wall St.
• By-Pass Fire Precinct, Natchez Mall, 350 John R. Junkin Drive.
• Bellemont Precinct, Crosspoint Church, 285 Highland Blvd.

District 2

• Duncan Park Precinct, Duncan Park Canteen, 57 Duncan Park Road.
• Beau Pre Precinct, Calvary Baptist Church, 522 U.S. 61 South.
• Liberty Park Precinct, Adams County Safe Room, 323 Liberty Road.
• Kingston Precinct, Kingston Community Center, intersection of Kingston Road and Upper Kingston Road.

District 3

• Concord Precinct, Christian Hope Baptist Church, 301 LaSalle St.
• Maryland Heights Precinct, Maryland Heights Rec. Building, 111 Dumas Drive.
• NPS Multipurpose Precinct, David R. Steckler Multi-Purpose Building, 311 Liberty Road.
• Palestine Precinct, Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Department, 1196 Liberty Road.

District 4

• Northside Precinct, J.L. Frazier School, 145 George F. West Blvd.
• Carpenter Precinct, Rose Hill Baptist Church, 607 1/2 Madison St.
• Pine Ridge Precinct, District 4 County Barn, 176 Foster Mound Road.
• Morgantown Precinct, Morgantown School, 101 Cottage Home Drive.

District 5

• Oakland Precinct, Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 65 Morgantown Road.
• Washington Precinct, New Hope Baptist Church, 417 Morgantown Road.
• Foster Mound Precinct, District 5 Fire Station, 228 Foster Mound Road.
• Airport Precinct, Airport, 434 Airport Road.