NATCHEZ — Adams County voters making their picks in runoff races from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today must avoid flip-flopping their party preference in the second primary elections.

Participants in the Aug. 2 primary must vote in the same party today in which they cast a ballot in the first primary, said Pamela Weaver, the director of communications for the Office of the Mississippi Secretary of State.

“If (residents) voted in the Republican primary (Aug. 2), in the runoff, they have to vote Republican,” Weaver said. “And the same for the Democratic primary.”

Weaver said party primary runoffs serve as a continuation of the first primary election.

Contested races in today’s second primary include the local race for Adams County circuit clerk, the statewide race for governor and treasurer and the southern district race for public service commissioner.

Today’s election will include three races on the Democratic ballot and one race on the Republican ballot.

Circuit Clerk Incumbent Eddie Walker will face Jennifer “Lady J” Minor on the Democratic ballot in the second primary. The winner of that race will take office in January.

Today’s winner of the race between Democratic governor candidates Johnny Dupree and Bill Luckett will face Republican Phil Bryant in November.

The Democratic race for Public Service Commissioner, Southern District, between Mike Collier and Thomas “Tom” Blanton will also be decided in today’s election.

The only Republican race that will be decided today is the race for Mississippi State Treasurer between Lynn Fitch and Lee Yancey.

Of the 540 absentee ballots cast for the second primary election, 525 were Democratic and 15 were Republican ballots, said Jacqulyn Williams, a deputy circuit clerk who handles absentee voting.

Approximately 700 absentee ballots were cast for the Aug. 2 primary election.

Those who did not participate in the Aug. 2 election can vote in whichever party primary they choose, Weaver said.

Voters attempting to cast a ballot in both party primary elections can be charged with a misdemeanor, she said.