Will your vote matter on Tuesday?

In this presidential primary, it will likely matter more than in previous years. Republican voters have a chance to help Donald Trump’s quest to grab the nomination. Or vote for one of his rivals and slow his momentum.

It’s been a while since the state’s 40 delegates have mattered so much.

On the Democratic side, Mississippi appears to be less of a factor. Hillary Clinton looks to have the nomination in hand, but the state’s 41 Democratic delegates are up for grabs.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

For president of the United States, there are 13 Republican candidates and five Democratic candidates on the respective ballots. While some of these candidates have suspended their campaigns, their names will remain on the ballots, according to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

“Mississippians have a voice in electing the next president of the United States. This opportunity occurs every four years and is only available because of the sacrifices of thousands of Americans. Honor these sacrifices by taking a few minutes to cast your ballot. Voting is our most important right and the key to our democracy,” he said. “Last year, a Mississippi House race with over 9,000 ballots ended in a tie. Your vote matters and each will be counted.”

Your vote matters in each and every election, but it’s nice to have your presidential primary vote count more than usual. Don’t pass up the chance to potentially affect the race.