NATCHEZ — Based on absentee voting, turnout for Tuesday’s election won’t be anything to write home about, Election Commissioner Larry Gardner said.

By noon Thursday, 348 absentee ballots for Tuesday’s election had been returned at the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Approximately 500 ballots have been mailed out.

Typically by this point the number returned would be closer to 1,500, Gardner said.

“I don’t think the turnout will be as good as it was for the presidential election,” Gardner said. “I anticipate 8,000 votes cast, maybe 9,000. Of 22,000 registered voters, we’ll be in the 35, maybe 40, percent range.”

And numbers on Election Day will, as always, depend on the weather, he said.

“Typically when you have a single race you usually have lower numbers because not everyone has a horse in the race, but with so many horses in this race, you might see more,” Gardner said. “I do think the (recreation) referendum will help this race. It brings another group of people into play in voting.”

Registered voters who will be out of town Tuesday or who are over 65 or disabled can absentee vote at the circuit clerk’s office in the Adams County Courthouse until 5 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The clerk’s office is continuing to mail out absentee ballots upon request, but those ballots must be received in by the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Monday to count.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.