We’re right at a month away from our local elections. If you’ve not yet registered to vote, you’d better get with it.

If you intend to vote absentee, I urge you to go ahead and contact the board of registrars and hammer out any lingering details that may hinder you in this process at the last minute. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is May 27.

Marengo County board of registrars member Barry Hunt said that the deadline to register to vote in the June 1 primaries is Friday, May 21.

In the sheriff’s race for Democratic nominee, we have Richard E. “Ben” Bates, John N. Brown, Robert Clayton, Bucky Dailey, Randy Sanders and Dennis Spence. They’ll likely face lone Republican contender Bobby Duke in the general election later this year.

District Attorney Greg Griggers has competition from Barrown Lankster.

The race for coroner isn’t much of a race at all. Democrat Stuart Eatmon is the only horse on the track.

Commissioner Freddy Armstead is facing a challenge from Willard Williams in District 1 while incumbent John Crawford, Jr. tries to fend off Kelvin Robertson, Jr. in Commission District 3.

In District 5, incumbent Jerry Lofton is a the three-man race with Sam Etheredge and Michael Thompson.

From the water cooler chatter, the two most hotly contested races will be those of district attorney and sheriff.

I think that has more to do with those two offices being county-wide.

The races in the commission districts will be just as challenging, and are just as important, to the citizens who reside in those districts.

If you’ve not yet taken the opportunity to register to vote or have moved and not updated your voting information, you owe it to yourself and your neighbors to do so.

Voting is one of this county’s most important rights, but it’s the one most citizens care the least about.

On May 12, the Demopolis Times will publish the Marengo County Voters List. I urge each of you to pore through the list and look for your name.

If it’s not there, visit the registrar’s office and sign up. If you see your name, make sure you understand your district lines. Know in which precinct you’re assigned to vote and if you live in Commission Districts 1, 3 or 5, know the candidates asking for your vote.

Voting is a simple but important exercise in the American way of life. I hope you all will participate.

Jason Cannon is publisher of the Demopolis Times.