Morgan County voters will head to the polls Tues., March 13, to choose their party’s nominees for the General Election Nov. 6.

Voting precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will be required to identify the party (Democrat or Republican) in which they wish to participate and show identification—driver’s license, student ID, passport, gun license, birth certificate, among others—before receiving their ballot.

New digital machines will be used to count votes and new private voting booths will be available for voters who prefer to mark their ballots in an enclosed booth. In addition, poll workers will use I-pads to determine voter eligibility in cases where the voter’s name is not listed. This will save time for both poll workers and voters.

The Democratic ballot lists only 29 candidate names, including incumbent President Barack Obama as an unopposed nominee for a second term of office. The other candidates are seeking delegate status for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Voters will choose four each from separate lists of male and female candidates.

The Republican ballot is far more challenging. It is headed by seven candidates who are seeking the GOP nomination for President. There are also nine federal, state and local offices up for grabs.

Listed as candidates for the Republican Party nomination for President are: Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorium.

Forty-six at large delegate positions and five Fifth Congressional District delegate positions are up for grabs, representing Gingrich, Paul, Romney and Santorium.

Three candidates are in the running for the GOP nomination for Morgan County Circuit Clerk, a position that is being vacated by John Pat Orr. They are Darren Tucker, Chris Priest and James “Jimmy” Smith.

Rex Cheatham, chairman of the Morgan County Democratic Executive Committee, is the unopposed Democratic nominee. He will face the GOP nominee in the November General Election.

The race for Morgan County Commission, District 3, has four candidates.

Incumbent Don Stisher is being opposed by Paul Holmes, Robert Dotson and Tallmadge Bradley Turrentine. The winner will automatically be elected since there is no Democratic nominee.

Eric Summerford and Jennifer Howell are seeking the GOP nomination for Morgan County Circuit Judge, Place 1. The winner will face incumbent Judge Sherrie Paler, the unopposed Democratic nominee.

There is also competition in the race for Morgan County Circuit Judge, Place II. Incumbent Judge Glenn Thompson is unopposed as the Democratic nominee. He will be opposed by the unopposed GOP nominee, Buddy “Buzz” Brown in the General Election.

Two Morgan County School Board positions are also being contested. Billy Rhodes is opposing incumbent Kenneth Henson for the District I seat. No one qualified for the Democratic nomination. Also, incumbent Jimmy Dobbs is being opposed by Melvin Duran III for the District 5 nomination. The winner will face William Fowler, the unopposed Democratic nominee in November.

For U.S. Representative, District 5, incumbent Mo Brooks is being opposed by Parker Griffith for the GOP nomination.

Three candidates are in the running for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. They are Charlie Graddick, Chuck Malone and Roy Moore.

Seeking the GOP nomination for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place I, are Tommy Byran and Debra K. Jones.

The GOP candidates for President, Public Service Commission, are Chip Brown, Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and Kathy Peterson.