Final thoughts on Tuesday’s election:
“Everyone can vote!” That’s a message that Panola Circuit Clerk Melissa Meek-Phelps asked us to help make clear as Tuesday approaches.

You can vote as a Democrat or you can vote as a Republican in Tuesday’s primary and still vote for an independent in the November General Election.

What you cannot do is vote as a Republican in Tuesday’s First Primary and then vote in the Democrat runoff election on August 25. That’s a no-no. But in the November General Election, you can vote for a Democrat here, a Republican there and an independent over yonder — all on the same ballot.

Further, the circuit clerk invites everyone to the Batesville courthouse Tuesday night while votes are counted.

“We want everyone to come; get involved in it,” she said. She is trying to arrange to have a big-screen TV and a projection screen so that spectators can watch from the courtroom as election workers tabulate votes. She’s still working on that.

Absentee ballots may be cast at the courthouses up to noon Saturday; mailed absentee ballots must be received by the clerk’s office Monday, August 3 mail delivery.