Pike County voters head to the polls Tuesday morning to take part in the Super Tuesday presidential and local primaries.

County, state and national races will be on the ballot, including presidential primaries and three contested county commission seats.

“It’s hard to predict turnout,” said Probate Judge Wes Allen, who oversees the election process in Pike County. “In the 2012 March primary, 5,867 ballots were cast.”

That’s roughly 28 percent of Pike County’s registered voters.

“This year, we have the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries as well as three commission seats,” Allen said. “We also have a constitutional amendment on the ballot.”

Voters heading to the polls will have the choice of voting in either the Republican or Democratic primaries.

On the local ballot, three commission seats are being contested:

• In District 3, incumbent Jimmy Barron faces challenger Forest Lee in the Republican primary.

• In District 4, four candidates are vying for the seat being vacated by retiring commissioner Ray Goodson. Chad Copeland and Andy Sheffield have qualified as Republicans. Steve Thrash and Odies Townsend qualified as Democrats, but Townsend withdrew from the race earlier this month. His name will remain on the ballot.

• In District 6, incumbent Joey Jackson faces challenger Russell Johnson on the Republican ballot.

Voters also will cast ballots in the presidential primaries, which feature high profile races on both the GOP and Democratic ticket.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are on the Democratic ticket. The Republican ballot still lists all the original qualifiers, but candidates still in the race include Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Ben Carson.

Carson, Trump, Clinton and Rubio are scheduled to make stops around the state before Tuesday. Former President Bill Clinton will also stump for his wife.

Alabama lawmakers last year voted to move its primary date up to join others in the region. Secretary of State John Merrill says Alabama is now positioned as a “mover and shaker” in the Southern primary, attracting more candidates and engaging voters.

The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. in Pike County. Residents will vote in 34 precincts, including the Troy Public Library, Meeksville Volunteer Fire Department, China Grove County Building, Hamilton Cross Roads, Dunn’s Voting Center No. 1, Troy Adams Armory, Saco Voting Center No. 1, Ebenezer Voting Center No. 1, Josie County Building, Enon County Building, Sweet Pilgrim Church, Banks Voting Center No. 1, Troy Recreation Department, Brundidge – Haisten Building, Tennille Methodist Church, Tarentum Community Clubhouse, Little Oak County Building, Galloway Road Community Center, Springhill Housing Authority, Pike County Courthouse, First Baptist Church, Henderson Voting Center No. 1, Goshen Town Hall, Rural Home County Building, Antioch Church of Christ, Oak Bowery Church, Dunn’s Voting Center No. 2, Banks Voting Center No. 2, Golden/Satellite Building, Ebenezer Voting Center No. 2, Henderson Voting Center No. 2, and Saco Voting Center No. 2.

“Voters who previously voted at the Academy Street School will now vote at the Troy Public Library,” Allen said. “This is a new facility and I think people are going to be pleased with it.”

Allen reminded voters that Alabama law requires a valid photo ID when casting ballots. “That can be anything from a valid state issued driver’s license to a valid ID card or a passport,” Allen said.

Poll workers will be equipped with electronic access to the complete voter rolls to assist residents who may come to the wrong precinct.

“If you come to vote at a precinct and aren’t listed on the roll for that precinct, a poll worker can use your birthday or name to look you up and help you find your correct precinct,” he said.

 

Provisional ballots will be available at each precinct, if needed.