Limestone County residents who want to vote in some key local races in the March 13 primary election will have to vote Republican, the county’s chief election official said. That’s because Republican candidates are the only ones with opposition.

“We want the voter to be aware that the only primary opposition has been with the Republican Party,” Limestone County Elections Director Bobbi Bailey said. “Voters can come to their polling place and request a Republican ballot, even though they may be thinking, ‘Lord, I’ve never voted for a Republican.’”

Bailey urges voters to look at the sample primary ballots to get a clearer picture.

“The only thing on the Democratic ballot is (President Barack) Obama and his delegates,” Bailey said. “In all the local races — circuit clerk, probate judge, commission District 2 and county school board District 6 — only Republicans have opposition.”

The primary election works a lot like a beauty contest. (The winner of the Miss Alabama pageant goes on to compete in the Miss America pageant.) The difference is that voters choose both a Republican and a Democratic beauty to go on to the final contest.

This year, there are three local Democrats on the Democratic ballot in key local races— Greg Tucker for license commissioner, Bill Daws for District 4 commissioner, and Kris Allen for circuit clerk. None of them has opposition. So, they are ensured a place on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot, where they will go head-to-head with whichever Republican candidate is chosen in the primary.

Local races on the Republican ballot look like this: Brad Curnutt vs. Johnny Evans for Circuit Court Clerk; Don Mansell vs. Charles Woodroof for probate judge; Rex Davis, Steven Haynes, Warren Herring, Richard Lauderdale and Steve “Ned” Turner competing for District 2 commissioner; and Jason Adkison, Cory Elrod and Anthony Hilliard competing for Limestone County school board District 6.

If there is no clear GOP winner in a race after the primary election, the top vote getters will compete in a primary runoff election on April 24. Even if you voted a Democratic ballot in the primary, you can vote Republican in the runoff. That is because the Republican Party allows crossover voting. The Democrats do not.

If you are a Democrat who votes a Republican ballot in the primary, you can split your ticket — vote for candidates in either party — in the General Election.an candidates are the only ones with opposition.

“We want the voter to be aware that the only primary opposition has been with the Republican Party,” Limestone County Elections Director Bobbi Bailey said. “Voters can come to their polling place and request a Republican ballot, even though they may be thinking, ‘Lord, I’ve never voted for a Republican.’”

Bailey urges voters to look at the sample primary ballots published in today’s paper to get a clearer picture.

“The only thing on the Democratic ballot is (President Barack) Obama and his delegates,” Bailey said. “In all the local races — circuit clerk, probate judge, commission District 2 and county school board District 6 — only Republicans have opposition.”

The primary election works a lot like a beauty contest. (The winner of the Miss Alabama pageant goes on to compete in the Miss America pageant.) The difference is that voters choose both a Republican and a Democratic beauty to go on to the final contest. 

This year, there are only three local Democrats on the Democratic ballot — Greg Tucker for license commissioner, Bill Daws for District 4 commissioner, and Kris Allen for circuit clerk. None of them has opposition. So, they are ensured a place on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot, where they will go head-to-head with whichever Republican candidate is chosen in the primary.

Local races on the Republican ballot look like this: Brad Curnutt vs. Johnny Evans for Circuit Court Clerk; Don Mansell vs. Charles Woodroof for probate judge; Rex Davis, Steven Haynes, Warren Herring, Richard Lauderdale and Steve “Ned” Turner competing for District 2 commissioner; and Jason Adkison, Cory Elrod and Anthony Hilliard competing for Limestone County school board District 6.

If there is no clear GOP winner in a race after the primary election, the top vote getters will compete in a primary runoff election on April 24. Even if you voted a Democratic ballot in the primary, you can vote Republican in the runoff. That is because the Republican Party allows crossover voting. The Democrats do not.

If you are a Democrat who votes a Republican ballot in the primary, you can split your ticket — vote for candidates in either party — in the General Election.

If you are not registered but would like to vote, call the Limestone County Board of Registrars at 256-233-6405, visit the office at 100 S. Clinton St., Suite E, in Athens, or go online to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office website at http://www.sos.state.al.us/Elections/GetRegForm.aspx. You must register 10 days before the election.