Just weeks after voters across the country and in Clinton County went to the polls to elect several federal, state and local representatives, those same voters will have the opportunity to once again take part in another election next week–this one, however, being on a much smaller scale and only one seat to be filled.

Eligible voters in Clinton County are reminded that next Tuesday, December 18, polls will open at 6 a.m. local time in six counties in the 16th Senatorial District for voters to decide who will represent them in the Kentucky State Senate for the next two years.

By executive order, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear set the special election in the senate district for the December 18 date, following the appointment of former Republican Senate President David L. Williams to the seat of 40th Judicial Circuit Judge.

Williams, of Burkesville, is filling the unexpired term of the late Judge Eddie C. Lovelace, who passed away in September. Williams officially took the judge’s seat on November 2. That circuit includes the counties of Clinton, Cumberland and Monroe.

Last month, both Republican and Democrat Party officials in all six collective counties that make up the 16th Senate District, held caucuses to choose its respective candidates to seek the seat, which expires after the year 2014. At that time, a full-time senator from the district will be elected for a six-year term.

The special election was announced to local county clerks and sheriffs in each of the six counties by Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky Secretary of State. The “writ of election” declaring a special election be held, gave each political party a deadline of November 20 at 4 p.m. to nominate candidates to seek the vacant seat.

The Republican Party chose current State Representative Sara Beth Gregory of Monticello, while the Democrat Party nominated Whitley County school teacher Bill Conn as their party’s nominee.

Those two names will be on the ballot in next Tuesday’s special election.

Should Gregory prevail in her attempt at the Senate seat, it would likely set the state for another special election in the State Representative District to the east where she now serves, after having been elected to her current seat in the November general election.

Voter turnout next Tuesday in Clinton County and across most of the 16th Senate District is expected to be light, with the heaviest turnout expected to be in each respective county where the nominees reside.

The district as a whole is made up of six counties, including Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Monroe, Wayne and Whitley.

Polls in Clinton County will open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 18 and results of the special election will appear in next week’s Clinton County News.