The following guest column is an open letter to the voters of the state.

On Tuesday, June 24, Mississippians will head to the polls and choose their next United States senator in the Republican Primary election runoff. Also, a Democratic nominee for the Third Congressional seat will be chosen.

Regardless of your choice for a candidate, it is most important that you go vote. Less than 1,500 votes separated the top two candidates in the Republican Senate primary election June 3. Every vote counts.

And don’t forget your Voter ID. The implementation of voter ID was a success in the Primary Election. Ninety-nine point nine percent of Mississippians cast their ballot by showing an ID. Only 300 voters out of 400,000 voters failed to return within seven days with a photo ID to verify their affidavit ballot.

Mississippians came together and showed that we, as a state, could implement a voting requirement without federal intervention or oversight. A columnist and the Brennan Center for Justice attempted to perpetuate the stigma Mississippians cannot conduct their own elections fairly and in accordance with the Constitution. They were wrong.

Absentee balloting has already started across the state. The deadline to cast an absentee ballot in person at your local circuit clerk’s office is Saturday, June 21. Circuit clerk’s will be open from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by your circuit clerk no later than Monday, June 23, by 5 p.m. The primary runoff election will be held on Tuesday, June 24. Polls are open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Remember, if you were eligible to vote in the primary election, you are eligible to vote in the primary election runoff. However, if you voted in the Republican Primary election, you must vote in the Republican Primary election runoff. If you voted in the Democratic Primary election, you must vote in the Democratic Primary runoff. However, if did not vote in the Primary election, but were eligible, you may vote in either party primary.

We encourage everyone to head to the polls on Election Day. Make an educated choice when choosing your candidate. Only Mississippians should, and will, decide their federal officials.

Thank you for casting a ballot and thank you working together to build confidence in our election system.

Delbert Hosemann is the Mississippi secretary of state.