Polls will open Tuesday for a runoff between Democratic and Republican candidates for Beaufort County Sheriff.

Twenty-one precincts across the county will open at 6:30 a.m. and voters will decide which Democrat — Russell Davenport or Al J. Whitney — and which Republican — Ernie Coleman or Harry Meredith — will battle it out for sheriff in November. Polls will close at 7:30 p.m. with results being released soon after.

“They were the only two contests to qualify for a second primary,” said Kellie Hopkins, director of the Beaufort County Board of Elections. “Election results will be released once we receive them after 7:30. Whoever wins this nomination will go against each other in November.”

Hopkins said she is expecting a higher voter turnout than most contests since the race is local. The turnout for the second primary will be slightly less than the May 6 primary.

“We’re predicting this primary to be slightly less than the May primary,” Hopkins said. “That’s pretty much driven because the candidates are local. You have four people that live in Beaufort County, who have friends and family here. They have a personal vested interest in this particular contest so they’re going to be more apt to turn out. Normally, primaries tend to have a relatively low turnout.”

The Board of Elections held One-Stop voting for the second primary July 3, July 7-11 and July 12. Early voting, which brought out 2,207 voters, closed on Saturday, Hopkins said. In the May primary, 2,500 voters came out for early voting, slightly higher than the second primary.

“This will be the busiest second primary we have had in my 16 years,” Hopkins said.

In the May primary, nine candidates — five Democrats and four Republicans — were on the ballot for Beaufort County Sheriff. Hopkins said since none of the candidates received over 40 percent of votes in the first primary, a second primary is required. Since Sheriff Alan Jordan, the 16-year incumbent, will not run for reelection, the number of candidates tends to ramp up, Hopkins said.

Although there are some restrictions, anyone can come out and vote in the second primary, Hopkins said. A voter who is unaffiliated may choose a political party and vote on either the Democratic or Republican ballot. An unaffiliated voter who voted in the May 6 primary is required to stick with the party they selected on May 6.