With this year's primary election now less than a week away, local election officials are gearing up toward a busy day at the polls on Tuesday with several key county positions on the ballot.

State election officials predict a 30 percent turnout statewide for Tuesday's vote but County Clerk Lisha Popplewell hopes those numbers are higher here in Russell County as 12,630 locals are registered to vote.

“I don't know what (the turnout) will be but I'm hoping it is a big turnout,” she said. “I want everyone to exercise their right to vote and voice their opinion, it is a big election.”

She said she and her staff are ready to go after getting the last of the absentee ballots out this week.

“We'll also have the absentee machine here in the office until Monday (May 17) at 4 p.m.,” she said.

Popplewell advised that if anyone had voting or registration questions of any kind to call her office at 270-343-2125 to get all their answers.

She also warned her office will take care of only election-oriented issues on Tuesday and will not do any vehicle registrations or the like that day.

The county has 16 voting precincts with the Lake and Jamestown precincts voting at Jamestown Elementary, Eller, Esto, Parkway and Middletwon voting at Russell County High School, Rowena and Bryan voting at Union Chapel Elementary, Salem, Irvins and Fonthill voting at Salem Elementary, Eli voting at the volunteer fire department in Eli, Webbs, Royville and City Hall voting at Russell Springs Elementary and Jabez voting at the Christian Fellowship Center in Jabez, she said.

Popplewell, the Republican incumbent as county clerk will not be on the ballot until November as she is unopposed in the primary.

This week Secretary of State Trey Grayson also said voting is an important right and responsibility.

“I highly encourage voters to research the candidates before they get ready to cast their vote,” he said. “It is also important that voters determine a time when they can vote and thus prepare appropriately. The polls close at 6 p.m., local time, and any voter in line to vote by that time will be allowed to cast a ballot.”

The following is a rundown of those running in races on Tuesday:

For the office of Sheriff, Republican incumbent Larry Bennett is set to take on Tim Pierce (R). James Eugene Fetty is the only listing under the Democrats, therefore he passes on to the November ballot.

Property Valuation Administrator will see five people vie for the job with Kim Byrom (R), Tim Popplewell (R), Anthony Todd Carnes (R), and again the Democrat Roger Black will be on the November ballot.

In the County Judge-Executive primary Ralph Creech (R) will be listed first followed by incumbent Mickey Garner, with Gary D. Robertson challenging the winner in the November election.

Running for County Attorney are Republican incumbent Mark McGaha, who will be first on the ballot, and Kevin Shearer (R). The winner will face Democrat Jeffery T. Loy in the fall.

In the race for Coroner both the Republican incumbent Larry Skaggs and challenger Bill W. Carroll, (D), will face off in the general election this fall.

Running for Jailer is Democrat Tim Glover who will face either David R. Bernard, first on the ballot, Bobby S. Dunbar or the third on the ballot in May, Robert Stanton, (R).

The race for County Surveyor has one each of both parties and so passing on to the fall election are Michael Kevin Syphax (D), and Robert "Bobby" Smith (R).

Several of the magisterial races are crowded, with only District 5 having a pass in the primary. Following are magisterial candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot next Tuesday.

District 1

Ronald “Ron” Brumley

Shelby David Flanagan (R)

David L. Kearns (R),

Chad Aaron (R)

Terry Huckaby (R)

Greg Popplewell (R) incumbent

The winner will face Democrat Dwaine "Dude" West.

District 2

Coy McGowan

Travis D. Mann

Keith Pearce

Brook Cochran

Randall Bunch

Marvin Jr. Brown

With the winner facing Democrat John "Brack" Flanagan.

District 3

Ronald Johnson (R) incumbent

Ronald Cook (R)

With the winner facing Marty Kazsuk (D).

District 4

Dale Carey (R)

Darrell Stearns (R)

Jimmy R. McQueary (R) incumbent

And the winner of the primary will face Steve Richardson (D) in November.

In the Magisterial District 5 race Larry W. Holt (R), and Lou Ann Gore Flanagan (D) will face off in November.

Rounding out the local elections are the constable races-

District 1:

Billy Cross (R)

Perry Brumley (R)

Larry Appleby (R)

Ricky Wooldridge (R)

Larry M. Grider (R) incumbent

Ralph E. Hammond (R)

Jeffery Aaron (D) in the fall

District 2:

Lawrence Conner (R)

Mark Helm (R)

Orvis Roy (R) incumbent

Johnny Melson (R)

Roger Russell (R)

District 3:

Johnny Russell (R)

William Mark Blakeman (R)

Reggie Gosser (R)

District 4:

Denzil McGinnis (R)

Daron Russell (R)

Troy Moore (R)

Tracy Smith (R)

District 5:

Michael “Toe Joe” Bray (R)

Larry Bunch (R) incumbent

Ronald Powell (R)

Dale Brown (R)

For the 40th District Judge in the 2nd Division, incumbent James M. “Mike” Lawson is unopposed.

In the 1st Division of the 40th District Athena Cooper, Scarlett B. Latham, and Larry E. Rogers will square off in November since there is no party affiliation in judicial races.

Jeff Hoover is running unopposed for the 83rd District of the Kentucky House of Representatives.

There are 11 candidates for US Senate: James Buckmaster, Jack Conway, Daniel Mongiardo, Darlene Price, Maurice M. Sweeny, C.M. "Trey" Grayson, Bill Johnson, Gurley L. Martin, Rand Paul, Jon J. Scribner and John Stephenson.