By Rupert Howell
Polls open across the nation including Panola County with voting begining at 7 a.m. and lasting through 7 p.m.

Election officials will set up in the Panola County Courthouse in Batesville to tally results with citizens provided seating in the courtroom.

Only two races on Panola ballots are contested, a U.S. Senate seat and a U. S. House of Representative seat. A constitutional amendment is also included on the ballot.

Five local judgeships, District Five’s election commission seat are included on today’s ballot, all uncontested.

The U.S. Senate seat currently held by longtime Republican Thad Cochran and U.S. House of Representative Seat currently held by longtime incumbent Democrat Bennie G. Thompson will highlight the ballot.

Other Senate seat candidates are Democrat nominee and former First District U.S. Representative Travis Childers and perpetual Reform Party candidate Shawn O’Hara.

Independent candidate Troy Ray and Reform candidate Shelley Shoemake have both offered their names for the 2nd District Congressional seat held by Thompson.

Panola County District Five voters have the opportunity to vote for incumbent Election Commissioner Kaye Smythe although she has no opposition. Judges and election commission members must run nonpartisan.

Other names and positions on the ballot appearing unopposed for local judgeships include: Vicki B. Daniels, Chancery District 3-2, Place 2; Mitchell M. Lundy, Jr., 3-2,Place 3; Gerald W. Chatham, Sr., Circuit Judge Place 4; Smith Murphey, Circuit Judge Place 1; Jimmy McClure, Circuit Judge Place 2.
Panola Voters in the 1st U. S. District will also see an unchallenged Jimmy Maxwell for the Court of Appeals, Position 1 on their ballot.

All voters will see a proposed constitutional amendment that establishes hunting and fishing as a constitutional right subject only to regulations that promote wildlife conservation and management as the Legislature prescribes by law.