Tuesday’s Democratic primary will be the first time voters willhave an opportunity to use new touch-screen voting machines for thefirst time in a real election.

Local election officials said previous public education effortson the new machines have been successful. Officials are viewingTuesday’s one-race primary, which will decide who faces incumbentRepublican U.S. Trent Lott, as a “trial run” for the Novembergeneral election.

In addition to exercising their right to vote, citizens shouldtake Tuesday as an opportunity to familiarize themselves with thenew machines.

That familiarity will prove useful in November’s generalelection and next year – when who will serve in statewide andcounty offices will be determined by decisions made on the newvoting machines.