NATCHEZ — More early primary ballots have returned in Concordia Parish than anticipated, and Clerk of Court Clyde Ray Webber said that is a good sign that voters are interested in the future of the parish and the state.

Sixty early ballots were mailed in, and 1,064 were cast in person, totaling 1,124 early votes for state and local offices.

“That’s quite a few more than I thought there would be,” Webber said. “I’m tickled to death — usually there is not that much interest.”

Webber said he hopes the high early voter turnout means strong turnout on Saturday’s election day.

“Sometimes (early voting numbers) are a good indication (of high turnout), and other times not,” Webber said. “Usually this is the largest election we have.”

He said that makes sense, as voters will elect state and parish offices.

“But since police jury is not running this time, I don’t know the effect, because usually that’s a pretty big draw as far as elections are concerned.”

Police jury election — which were supposed to be on the ballot — were delayed when the jury failed to get approval of its redistricting plan in time.

Webber loosely predicts a 30 to 35 percent voter turnout Saturday.

“Hopefully we’ll have more than that,” Webber said. “It’s just a guess.”

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Saturday in Concordia Parish.