Next Tuesday, Alabamians have the opportunity to go to the polls in the first round of voting in the 2010 elections.

In Covington County, turnout is expected to be extremely low. Not only does the election follow the first holiday of the summer season, but there is only one local race on the ballot – the Republican nomination for state House of Representatives. The winner will face an independent and a Democratic candidate in the fall.

Because none of those candidates lucky enough to skate through the primaries unopposed knew for sure they’d be unopposed until qualifying ended, each had to begin campaigning. The result is a confused electorate.

Circuit Clerk Roger Powell, who is responsible for absentee voting, said his office has seen a number of voters who ask for a ballot, then assume they have the wrong one when they can’t find the names of our unopposed candidates.

Remember, Tuesdays elections are party primaries, and voters will have to choose sides: Republican or Democrat. Aside from the local Republican race, there are a whole slate of statewide races for Republican nominations. The Democratic ballot has only four state races: governor, U.S. senator; attorney general and state treasurer.

We encourage our readers to study the candidates, the issues, choose a primary and participate on Tuesday. Voting is a precious right and we should make our voices heard in this and every election.