Who’s going to show up at the polls? Who’s already left LincolnCounty for the holidays and forgot to vote absentee? Who’s going toget the biggest chunk of the more than 450 votes defeated opponentspulled in the last election?

There are a lot of questions heading into Tuesday’s runoff electionto choose a new member of the Lincoln County Election Commissionfor District Three, an election scheduled for the middle of the oneof the year’s biggest holiday weeks. Two days before Thanksgiving,the citizens of District Three will have a 12-hour window to headto their six polling places and choose between two neck-and-neckRepublicans – Brookhaven’s Barbara Davis and Ruth’s Rachel ColeGatlin.

But will they?

“It’s hard to say. I’m worried that it’s the week of Thanksgiving,”said Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Terry Lynn Watkins. “The kids areout of school and people are going out of town. I hope everybodywill at least stay until Tuesday so they can go vote.”

The six District Three polling places – Bogue Chitto, City Hall,Enterprise, Norfield, Ole Brook and Ruth – will be open from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Chances are the county’s surprising turnout from the Nov. 2 generalelection won’t be as good. So far Watkins’ office has mailed out arequested 37 absentee ballots, but only about 20 have beenreturned.

A total of 1,850 voters from the third district showed up to votethree weeks ago in the special election, set up by the death ofcommissioner Bennon Case, who died of cancer on June 22.

Gatlin carried the day on Nov. 2 with 734 votes, followed closelyby Davis, who earned 659 votes. Even though Gatlin’s total was thehighest, it did not achieve the necessary majority required toclaim victory.

Democratic challengers Gloria Brown of Bogue Chitto and Mike Walleyof Enterprise were defeated after pulling in 285 votes and 172,respectively. That leaves 457 votes that could swing to eitherrunoff candidate.

Where those extra votes go is anyone’s guess, Davis said.

“I had a lot of county people get out and vote for me, and I hopethey come out and vote for me again,” she said. “I am deeplyhumbled by those who voted for me.”

Davis has been working hard to become even more humbled, runningcampaign ads and shaking hands all around. She’s been mindful thatthe runoff election will be a small, local affair competing withthe urge to travel for Thanksgiving.

“I’m trying real hard to get people to the polls. I think mostpeople are going to have Thanksgiving on their minds, but hopefullythey’ll take the time and realize the election is important,” shesaid.

If elected, Davis promised to stick to the election rules and workto supply better training for poll workers.

“I know the word seems overused, but I don’t know a word betterthan integrity,” she said. “I just want people to know if I’melected, I’ll be doing it by the law.”

Gatlin is promising the same if elected.

“I’ll do the best I can to make sure folks have their fair say atthe polls,” she said.

As for as the spare votes waiting to be picked up, it’s too closeto call, Gatlin said. She said both she and Davis have sway.

“I think our name recognition is probably the factor that shows upmore than anything,” she said. “I’m probably more well known outhere because I grew up out here – a lot of people know me throughmy dad, and he was widely known in the county. But Barbara has alocal business and gets around in town a lot. She’s got moreexposure there.”

Gatlin is also working hard to remind voters not to skip out ontheir civic duties Tuesday, though she too is worried aboutThanksgiving.

“I continue to remind people we have the runoff Tuesday. Don’tforget. It is important,” she said.