If you’re a dyed in the wool Republican or Democrat, figuring out which ballot from which to choose in next Tuesday’s party primary elections may be painful.

For voters, the biggest choice begins well ahead of the actual selection of a specific candidate.

The Aug. 7 elections are party primaries, which means voters must choose between a Republican ballot and a Democratic ballot.

Unlike in a general election in which a voter may choose to vary their choices based on the candidate, regardless of party affiliation, in the primaries, it’s all about party.

An important note to remember is that you do not have to be registered as a Republican or a Democrat.

Any registered voter may vote in either political party primary. But choose wisely because the same rules apply in a runoff, if required. Given the large number of candidates in some of the county races, a run off is almost a certainty.

Choosing which party’s ballot you select may be more complicated than just picking your favorite party. With only a handful of Republicans facing off in local races, the Democratic primary will likely be the most interesting, at least locally.

Sure, at the state level a few Republican rivals are facing off in the war for the state lieutenant governor’s spot.

But at the local level, Democrats — often really just Southern, centrist Republicans — have a strong foothold.

So how does a voter decide which ballot to choose? Ultimately, we don’t care which you choose, but please just choose to vote. That choice is among the most important one you can make.