From staff and AP reports.

POLLS OPEN: Polls in Warren County and across the state will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Trent Lott was more than 8 minutes into his 15-minute speech before the Mississippi Economic Council before he even mentioned Tuesday’s elections – and then he spent only a few seconds on the topic.

&#8220I’m enjoying getting around the state. I am running for re-election. I don’t know if you saw any indication of that on television or radio,” Lott said at last week’s MEC session, then he moved seamlessly into a discussion of the work ahead in Washington.

Like other incumbents in Mississippi this election season, Republican Lott has barely needed to exert himself while seeking re-election against challengers running low-budget campaigns. Only one congressional incumbent – Democrat Bennie Thompson in the Delta’s 2nd District – has debated an opponent. The heaviest advertising has come not from congressional candidates but from judicial hopefuls.

Voter turnout is expected to be light except in areas where local issues are being decided.

Polls in Mississippi are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, and voters in most of the state will use new, electronic touch-screen voting machines for the first time.

On the ballots: