Voters registered in notably heavier numbers for this year’s party primaries, compared to four years ago. But what turnout will be remains sketchy.

When registration for Democratic and Republican primary voting ended July 6, 35,550 names appeared on initial printouts of voter rolls.

That’s up 2,158 from totals taken at this point in the 2003 election season, but not quite as much as a 3,500-voter rise recorded from 1999 to 2003.

Warren County Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree said the figure may actually drop closer to the last election’s level due to &#8220inactive voters,” including those who may have moved out of the county since 2003.

&#8220You just never know,” she said. &#8220It usually stays in the 30s, though.”

U.S. Census estimates taken annually between the 10-year population count reflect Warren County’s population having a slight rebound from the 2000 Census.

Estimates for 2006 show the county’s population at 49,308, up from 49,113 two years before. The 2000 count put the county’s population at 49,644.

Though the state-managed voter database will be used for its second election this decade, most county-level election officials in Mississippi will experience their first full-ballot election using touch-screen voting machines.

This year’s primaries may be the final one in which voters do not register by party.

A federal judge ruled in June to allow the state Democratic and Republican parties to close their respective primaries to nonparty members, starting with the 2008 election cycle. The ruling is being challenged.

Without a reversal, state voters will re-enroll and specify a party affiliation, including independent.

Those not registered for the primary may do so for the Nov. 7 general election until 30 days prior to election day.

Primaries for Democratic nominations include: