Planning to vote Tuesday? Here's what you need to know before going to the polls

The state of Alabama on Tuesday, along with Arkansas and Georgia, is hosting its primary elections for the midterm general election in November.

"Primary elections are the way each party gets to decide on who will represent them in the General Election," said Etowah County Probate Judge Scott Hassell, "These elections are important because these will be the people representing you on (a) more local level. Not only that, it is a person's civic duty to vote."

Runoff elections will be June 21; the general election is Nov. 8.

If you do plan on voting Tuesday, know you will more than likely not be alone. However, Hassell said that there was no way to predict just how many people will be at the polls.

"We usually get a bigger turnout for primaries on presidential election years and there is a good chance for rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday, all of which will affect how many people turn out for the polls," he added.

Here is some key information that you need to know ahead of time before making your way to the polls.

Polling locations:

Each election location will open at 7 a.m. and close after a 12-hour window to vote at 7 p.m. However, you will still be allowed to vote if you are actively in line to do so at the time of closing.

Hassell reminded residents that those who typically vote at the Elliott Community Center will be voting across the street at Dwight Baptist Church, and those who usually vote at the East Gadsden Community Center can do so as things are “back to normal” there.

The following have been listed as official polling places across Etowah County. You can check your voting registration to see your polling location at https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview:

● Noccalula Kiwanis Pavilion

● Dwight Baptist Church

● Carver Community Center

● North Gadsden Recreation Center

● Former Gadsden High School Lunchroom

● Walnut Park Recreation Center

● Downtown Civic Center

● Wallace Hall at Gadsden State Community College

● Meadowbrook Baptist Church

● East Gadsden Recreation Center

● Southside Community Center

● Tillison Bend Water Authority

● George Wallace Senior Citizens Center

● Hokes Bluff Community Center

● Northeast Etowah Community Center

● Lookout Mountain Community Center

● Reece City Town Hall

● Cave Springs Community Clubhouse

● First United Methodist Church of Attalla

● Attalla Recreation Center

● Mountainboro Volunteer Fire Department

● Sardis Community Center

● New Union Community Center

● Walnut Grove Volunteer Fire Department

● Altoona Fire Department

● Gallant Community Center

● Rainbow City Community Center

● Whorton Bend Fire Station

● Rainbow City Fire Department Station Two

● Ivalee Volunteer Fire Department

Who's on what ballot?:

There are several positions you will be voting for in the primary elections depending on what political party you declare to be voting for at the time. Here is a look at all ballot information for the May 24 Election. Sample ballots can also be viewed at https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/2022-primary-election-sample-ballots.

Local Races

Etowah County Commission District 4:

Republican:

● Jeff Overstreet

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Tim Ramsey

ETOWAH DISTRICT 4: Etowah County Commission District 4 primary Q&A: Incumbent Tim Ramsey and Jeff Overstreet

Etowah County Commission District 5:

Democrat:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Carolyn Parker

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jeffery Washington

ETOWAH DISTRCT 5: Etowah County Commission District 5 primary Q&A: Incumbent Jeffery Washington and Carolyn Parker

Etowah County Sheriff:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jonathon W. Horton

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Leonard Kiser

ETOWAH SHERIFF: Etowah County Sheriff Primary candidates Q&A: Incumbent Jonathon Horton and Leonard Kiser

Etowah County Board of Education Place 5:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Lucas Hallmark

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Doug Sherrod

ETOWAH BOARD OF EDU PLACE 5: Etowah County Board of Education Place 5 Q&A: Incumbent Doug Sherrod and Lucas Hallmark

State Republican Executive Committee, Etowah County Place 2:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Andrew Fuller

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Stephen R. Hooks II

State Republican Executive Committee, Etowah County Place 4:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Harry D. Butler

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Glenda S. Jackson

State Democratic Executive Committee District 28 Female:

Democrat:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Kirkland Back

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Mary Carstarphen Kelley

State Democratic Executive Committee District 28 Male:

Democrat:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● James Parker Jr.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jeffery Washington

State Representative District 28:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Mack N. Butler

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Gil F. Isbell

HOUSE DISTRICT 28: House District 28 primary Q&A: Incumbent Gil Isbell and Mack Butler

State Representative District 29:

​​​​​​​ Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Mark A. Gidley

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jamie W. Grant

HOUSE DISTRICT 29: House District 29 primary Q&A: Mark Gidley and Jamie Grant

Statewide Races

Governor:

Republican:

● Lindy Blanchard

● Lew Burdette

● Stacy Lee George

● Kay Ivey

● Tim James

● Donald Trent Jones

● Dean Odle

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Dave Thomas

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Dean Young

Democrat:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Yolanda Rochelle Flowers

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Malika Sanders Fortier

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Patricia Salter Jamieson

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Arthur Kennedy

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Chad "Chig" Martin

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Doug "New Blue" Smith

United States Senator:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Lillie Boddie

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Katie Britt​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

● Mo Brooks

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Karla M. Dupriest

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Mike Durant

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jake Schafer

Democrat:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Will Boyd

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Brandaun Dean

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Lanny Jackson

United States Representative Congressional District 4:

Democrat:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Rhonda Gore

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Rick Neighbors

Attorney General:

​​​​​​​ Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Steve Marshall

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Harry Bartlett Still III

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Place 5

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Greg Cook

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Debra Jones

Secretary of State:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Wes Allen

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Christian Horn

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Ed Packard

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jim Zeigler

State Auditor:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Stan Cooke

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Rusty Glover

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Andrew Sorrell

Public Service Commission Place 1:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● John Hammock

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Stephen McLamb

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Jeremy H. Oden

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Brent Woodall​​​​​​​

Public Service Commission Place 2:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Chip Beeker

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Robin Litaker

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Robert L. McCollum

State Board of Education District 6:

Republican:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Marie Manning

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Priscilla Yother

Statewide Amendment 1:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, authorizing the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds of the State of Alabama of up to $85,000,000 for the purposes of the improvement, renovation, equipping, acquisition, provision, construction, and maintenance of Alabama state parks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and public historical sites and public historical parks under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Historical Commission. (Proposed by Act 2021-326)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● Yes

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​● No

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: What you need to know ahead of Primary Elections Tuesday