NATCHEZ — Slow summer days might have translated into slow summer polling, Election Commission Larry Gardner said.

Of approximately 20,000 active registered voters in Adams County, 8,570 cards were cast in Tuesday’s elections, according to an election summary report the courthouse provided.

Nearly 700 absentee ballots have yet to be counted, but Gardner said it would probably still turn out that roughly 50 percent of voters participated in the elections.

“Unfortunately, it is about what I expected,” he said. “It’s the middle of summer, and a lot of people are on vacation.

“I thought the local race aspect would bring more people out.”

No matter what party they sided with, most vocal voters agreed: Tuesday was a scorcher.

“It’s too hot,” said Lynn Smith, who cast her ballot at the Elk’s Lodge.

Diane Beamer, who campaigned outside the Bypass Fire Station precinct on John R. Junkin Drive for Judge Charlie Vess and District 1 Supervisor Mike Lazarus, said she began fighting the heat at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday and planned to stay until the evening hours.

Beamer said she remedied the heat with ice, Powerade and “by the grace of God.”

“People need to pay attention to the issues before us,” Smith said. “We need (leaders) with fiscal responsibility.”