By Mynecia Steele

Officials are hoping to increase community involvement and voter turnout for the Republican runoff Tuesday by encouraging voters that it won’t take much time out of their day.

“It’s a pretty quick process,” said Jamie Scarbrough, Pike County Circuit Clerk.

Primary election numbers were much lower than officials had hoped, Scarbrough said, but she is hoping for better numbers for the run-off.

“I hope turnout is good,” Scarbrough said. “But if history repeats itself, as it usually does, we’re going to have a lower turn out.”

Voters must remember voting requirements when preparing for election day, Scarbrough said.

Those coming to the polls will need an official form of identification and new voters must register ahead of time.

Absentee ballots are still available for request until Thursday, July 12 and voters can submit ballots until July 16.

“If you’re going to be out of town, make sure you come by,” Scarbrough said. “It maybe takes 5 to 10 minutes to vote.”

“For those who are voting on election day, it is very imperative that you do vote, where you are registered,” Scarbrough said.

“Otherwise you would have to vote provisional,” Scarbrough said. “There’s always a possibility that your vote won’t count. So it’s best to always go where you are registered to vote.”

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.

“You can always call the Board of Registrars to check to see where it is that you are supposed to vote, ” Scarbrough said. “If you do have any questions you can always call them at 566-1757.”

If a voter happens to arrive at the wrong precinct on election day, tablets are on sight specifically for tracking down precinct locations.

Pike County Republican voters will choose between the following candidates in the election:

• Will Ainsworth and Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh for lieutenant governor.
• Bobby Bright and Martha Roby for U.S. Rep. for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District.
• Troy King and Steve Marshall for attorney general
• Brad Mendheim and Sarah Hicks Stewart for associate justice of the supreme court, place No. 1.
• Christy Olinger Edwards and Michelle Manley Thomason for court of civil appeals judge, place No. 1.
• Rich Anderson and Chris McCool for court of criminal appeals judge, place No. 2.
• Gerald Dial and Rick Pate for commissioner of agriculture and industries.
• Steven Curtis and January (Jana) Blair Ellis for Pike County district court judge, place No. 2.

The election will be held Tuesday, July 17, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.