Following an extremely close contest in the first primary, every vote counts more than ever in Tuesday’s runoff election in Mississippi.

Statewide, fewer than 1,500 votes separated the frontrunner, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, and incumbent Thad Cochran in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate June 3. While not as close, the Third Congressional District Democratic primary between Douglas MacArthur “Doug” Magee and Dennis Quinn also resulted in a runoff election.

While runoffs don’t typically draw as much of a turnout as first primaries, according to Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield, the numbers at the polls Tuesday are likely to be at least as strong as they were June 3, if the amount of absentee ballots cast to date is any indicator.

Bairfield said that as of Saturday’s noon deadline, 316 voters had cast absentee ballots in his office, compared to 226 in the June 3 election. Associated Press reports indicate a similar trend in other strongly Republican counties in the state.

The polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents must have registered to vote by May 3 to be eligible to vote. As on June 3, voters will cast either a Democratic or a Republican ballot in the runoff. Registered voters can vote in the June 24 runoff even if they did not vote June 3. However, those who voted June 3 cannot cross over to vote Tuesday in a different party primary from the one voted on June 3.

As on June 3, voters on Tuesday will be required to show a photo identification card in order to cast a ballot. This change from previous years’ practices is a result of the state’s new voter ID law. For more information on the types of IDs that may be used for voting, please visit the Mississippi Voter ID website at msvoterid.ms.gov. Or you may call your local circuit clerk’s office for details.

On Tuesday, voters in Lincoln County, the surrounding area and across the state will have the opportunity to go to the polls and choose their leaders in Washington for the immediate future. While the winners of both runoffs will go on to face opponents in the general election Nov. 4, Tuesday’s runoff is a vital step in getting to the final election process.

So, go to the polls and vote!