Panola Circuit Clerk Joe Reid keeps harping about this election. He’s in his short rows now, not seeking to keep the office he’s held since 1992.

This year’s election — starting with the party primaries one week from today — has more folks in confusion than any we’ve ever seen. Reid is worried (slightly worried; he’s never worried more than slightly) that some people besides losing candidates are going to be mad at the end of the day next Tuesday because they were not able to vote for all of the candidates they intended.

Here’s why:

You’ve got to decide whether you’re going to vote in the primary as a Democrat or a Republican.

If you want to vote for a lieutenant governor candidate, for instance,  choosing between Billy Hewes and Tate Reeves, then you will need to vote as a Republican. There is no Democrat running for lieutenant governor.

However, if you vote as a Republican, you will not be able to vote in the local race for sheriff because there are no Republican candidates for that office in this county.

Further, whichever party’s first primary election you choose to vote in on August 2, you must stick with that party in the runoff election on August 23. If you vote as a Democrat on August 2, you can’t vote as a Republican on August 23. And vice versa.

Further, you will not find the following local candidates’ names on the ballot in either August election:

Dennis Darby, Jim Pitcock, George Williford, Butch Still, Boyce Crowell, Wade Meek, James Perkins, Michael Simon and Chris Bracato. They are independent candidates, not seeking nomination in the August party primaries. Their names will appear on the ballot in the November 8 General Election.

That said, the circuit clerk encourages you to study the candidates and the issues and get out and vote. Vote early and vote often — as often as next Tuesday, August 2, then again on August 23 and again on November 8.