Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for primary elections.

We won’t bother reminding readers of the importance of voting. Hopefully, the central tenet of our Democracy won’t be forgotten. But we will offer some tips from the Secretary of State’s Office for a smooth experience at the polls.

•  Don’t forget your photo ID. The following forms of photo ID are acceptable:

1.    A driver’s license

2.    A photo ID card issued by a branch, department or entity of the State of Mississippi

3.    A United States passport

4.    A government employee ID card

5.    A firearms license

6.    A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college or community/junior college

7.    A United States military ID

8.    A tribal photo ID

9.    Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government

10.    A Mississippi Voter Identification Card

• Vote at off-peak times.  Vote mid-morning and mid-afternoon when voting is slower.

• Review your ballot before you vote. Sample ballots are posted in each precinct. Sample ballots are also available on the Secretary of State’s website through the polling locator.

• Know where you vote. A polling place locator is available on the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.ms.gov/pollingplace.

•  It is against the law for any candidate or candidate’s representative to distribute campaign literature within 150 feet of a polling location.  It is the position of the Office of the Secretary of State that wearing clothing with a candidate’s name and/or picture on it or other campaign paraphernalia within 150 feet of a polling location constitutes the posting of campaign literature and is prohibited.

• No loitering. The polling place should be clear 30 feet of all people except elections officials, voters waiting to vote or pollwatchers.