Voters head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in Democratic and Republican primary elections that feature gubernatorial races and a pair of contests at the county level.

In a change this year, the two political parties are combining some polling activities, sharing workers, as a way to cut costs, County Clerk Mary Lynn White says.

The clerk explains that instead of two tables, one for each party, at smaller polling locations there will be a single table at which either primary ballot may be requested.

All 15 voting locations throughout the county will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Contested races at the county level, both in the Democratic Primary, are for district clerk and county clerk.

Running for district clerk are incumbent Janet Chappell and challenger Letha Willis.

Seeking the Demo nomination for county clerk are Dianne Manning and Sharon Gibson.

The Democratic nominee for county clerk will face a Republican opponent in fall—-running unopposed in the GOP Primary next week is Linda Jarvis.

Running unopposed for new terms in the Democratic Primary are County Judge Linda Grant, County Treasurer Kay Barger, precinct two commissioner Craig Oakes, precinct four commissioner Clyde Ridge, and justices of the peace Debbie Hamilton in precinct two, Beth Ireland in precinct three and Shirley Mays in precinct four.

Unopposed on the county level in the Republican Primary is JP Theresa Farris, precinct one, who will not face a Democratic challenger in fall.

Ballots in each primary are topped by unopposed candidates for United States Representative, District 6. GOP incumbent Rep. Joe Barton will face Demo challenger David Cozad in the November general election.

Republican ballots have a 3-way race for the gubernatorial nomination and Democratic ballots have a 7-candidate race for governor. Both contests could wind up in runoff elections.

The Democrats also have a 3-way contest for the nomination for lieutenant governor and the right to face incumbent GOP Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

Depenending on which primary voters participate in, they can cast ballots for attorney general, comptroller, land, agriculture and railroad commissioners, three places on the supreme court, three places on the courth of criminal appeals, District 9 on the state board of education, state senator for District 5, state representative for District 8 and place one on the 10th Courth of Appeals.

A couple of candidates are seeking nominations for races that include Freestone and adjoining counties—-87th District Judge Deborah Oakes Evans is unopposed in seeking a new term and Charles Morgan is seeking nomination for District 8 State Representative.

Judge Evans, a Republican, will be unopposed in fall and Morgan, a Democrat, will face GOP incumbent state Rep. Byron Cook.

To become better informed about candidates for statewide offices, voters can access the web site of the League of Women Voters in Texas on which candidates answer a handful of questions.

Along with picking nominees for office, Republican voters can mark their choices for six non binding propositions.

Those propositions are: requiring photo identification to vote; limiting state government growth according to a formula; cutting federal income taxes; use of the word “God” at public events and on public buildings; requiring a sonogram before a woman can get an elective abortion.

In the last gubernatorial primary, in 2006, a total of 1,105 Freestone county voters cast ballots, 447 Republicans and 657 Democrats.

Two years ago in the presidential primaries, the count was 1,247 Republican and 2,912 Democratic ballots cast.