Although there are only two districts in the county that will be voting for county commissioner during the June 27 run-off election, there are several important state level races also on the ballot and county officials say that all polling houses will be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. that day.

Butler County Probate Judge MacDonald Russell said the voter turn out for run-off elections is historically low, and he encourages all registered voters to participate.

Russell said out of the county's more than 14,000 voters, only 4, 853 of them participated in the June 6 election-a turnout of about 30 percent. That state average for primary elections is 29 percent, and Russell said he would like to see that trend extend to the run-off.

"People often forget about run-off elections, but they are an equally important part of the democratic process," Russell said. "All voting houses will be open that day and I want to encourage all voters to participate."

On the Democratic side of the ballot, one seat of the state board of education (district five) will be voted on by everyone. Candidates for this seat are Ella B. Bell and LaTosha Brown.

Voters in districts one and five will decide who will receive the Democratic nomination for county commissioner. Incumbent Gary Hanks in district one will face Bobby DeShields and incumbent Tex Kervin in district five will face William Phillips.

On the Republican side of the ballot, voters will nominate candidates for the state court of civil appeals (place 1) and state court of criminal appeals (place 1).

Ralph Long and Craig Pittman are Republicans seeking the nomination for court of civil appeals judge, and Tony Riley and Greg Shaw seek the Democratic nomination for court of criminal appeals judge.

Russell said all voting houses will operate as usual during the run-off. He said there will be no additional schooling necessary for poll workers, but that he is holding an informal class for inspectors only on Thursday, June 22, at 2 p.m. in the Court House Annex.

A public testing of the voting machines will also be held in the Court House Annex on Thursday, June 22, at 10 a.m.