Jackson Free Press

[Verbatim/Aug. 6, 2007] Secretary of State Eric Clark today predicted that voter turnout in Tuesday's party primaries will be up slightly from the last statewide primary election and anticipates 710,000 ballots will be cast in races from Governor to Coroner. "I encourage every Mississippian to vote in these primary elections," Clark said. "Many important races will be decided tomorrow, not just in November."

" Also, I want to emphasize: It is the duty of every American to register and then exercise the constitutional right to vote. We are privileged to live in a free country and all of us need to do our job as citizens in the world's greatest democracy."

Next to the Presidential election, this statewide election is Mississippi's biggest voter turnout, Clark said. 707,000 Mississippians voted for Governor in the 2003 Democratic and Republican primaries. More than 1.1 million Mississippians cast votes for President in November 2004, which set the historic record for high turnout in our state's elections.

Clark said that along with some local elections, there are a couple of statewide races that are garnering the most attention statewide.

"This year, there are competitive races for Lieutenant Governor in the Republican Party and for Insurance Commissioner in the Democratic Party. Also, the State Auditor's and Secretary of State's positions are open. When we factor in legislative and county elections, these races will get folks to the polls."

Unlike states where voters must register by party, any registered Mississippi voter may vote in the primary of his or her choice tomorrow. However, they cannot cross over to vote in a runoff. The party primaries will be conducted by the party executive committees.

Tuesday's party primary will also mark the first major statewide election in which the new touch-screen voting machines are used in 77 counties. The machines were used last year for judicial and United States Congressional elections. In preparation for a large voter turnout, the Secretary of State's office has conducted 728 training sessions statewide in 2007 to educate election officials and voters on how the new machines operate. These are in addition to 1,252 training sessions our office conducted in 2006. Also, county election officials have held several thousand demonstrations of the new voting machines.

Many Election Day questions (For example, "Where do I vote?") should be directed to the appropriate county Circuit Clerk, who works with county party executive committees to run the election. The Secretary of State's Office toll-free number is 800-829-6786.

PAST PRIMARY TURNOUT
Total votes counted for Governor in the Democratic and Republican

Primary elections:
2003: 707,391
1999: 698,697
1995: 640,667
1991: 790,026
1987: 826,843

Mississippi voting age population: 2,069,471 (2000 Census)