Next week, a portion of Selma’s population will have the chance to head to the polls and take part in yet another election day.

Tuesday marks the conclusion of the lengthy process to fill the open Ward 3 position on the Selma City Council.

For months, residents of this district have been approached by the candidates — or those working on behalf of the candidates — asking for their vote.

These residents have had flyers dropped off in their mailboxes, reminders left on their front doors or seen yard sign after yard sign pop up in their neighbor’s yard.

The May 24 general election, which fielded eight candidates, couldn’t get the job done as neither of the candidates received a majority of the votes cast. So, we had six more weeks of campaigning, talking, petitioning and yes, soliciting absentee voters.

Unfortunately, elections in Selma have often times been somewhat scarred by rumors of voter fraud, absentee ballot irregularities and election shortcuts on the part of candidates.

What is most disappointing is this election is no different.

Over the past weeks, we’ve all heard rumors about absentee ballots being filled out by those who no longer live in Ward 3 and countless others. Now, we are not naïve and expect every election held has been run without some question, but we always hope.

This election for Ward 3’s seat on the council is an important vote for Selma. It provides a snapshot of what we can expect next August when the municipal ballot is much longer than the one we will see next Tuesday.

Selma’s Ward 3 is the most diverse — both economically and statistically — and contains key portions of Selma’s business district and historic jewels. In short, Ward 3 is a snapshot of Selma.

It would be nice if both Greg Bjelke and Gwen Brown came out and publically decried questionable uses of the absentee ballot and ask those who are working on their behalf to adhere to the strict letter and intent of the laws governing this electoral process.

If they choose not to, then that would be yet another unfortunate entry in Selma’s less than stellar election history.