By Billy Davis

Panola Circuit Clerk Joe Reid accurately predicted 12,000 voters would cast a ballot Nov. 2 in the General Election.

What will happen today, with a two-race ballot, is anybody’s guess.

An election for Panola sheriff, and a race for a newly created circuit court judge’s seat, will be on the ballot.

Panola’s election results, certified last week by the Secretary of State, showed 12,552 votes were counted in the sheriff’s race, drawing more votes than another other race.  

The votes for sheriff show a turnout of 59 percent three weeks ago, a number that is unlikely to be duplicated today.

Both sheriff’s candidates, after finishing closely in the General Election, have urged supporters to return today to cast a ballot.

Interim sheriff Otis Griffin and retired state trooper Dennis Darby are seeking to finish the uncompleted term of late sheriff Hugh “Shot” Bright.

In the judge’s race, former district attorney Gerald Chatham Sr. and attorney Stan Little are seeking to fill the new “Place Four” seat in Mississippi’s 17th District.

The sheriff’s race and judge’s race are county-wide elections. A justice court judge race is also on the ballot in north Panola County.  

Hal Johnson and Mike Wilson are seeking the justice court seat, formerly held by late longtime judge James Appleton.