By By Lisa Tindell- news editor
With just two days left to make a decision, voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide who leaders for the next four years will be in national, state and county races.
In the presidential election, regardless of the winner, the nation will make an historic decision.
In the event the John McCain/Sarah Palin partnership wins the election, Palin will become the first woman to serve in the position of vice president. Should the Barack Obama/Joe Biden partnership win, it will mark the first time a black American has held the highest position in the nation.
Kevin Jordan, who teaches current events and U.S. and world history at W.S. Neal High School, said the 2008 election will be one for the books.
On the flip side of the ballot, Jordan said he believes John McCain made a smart move in selecting his running mate.
Jordan said it is possible that Palin could become president at any time and that, again, would make history.
In Alabama - as in many other states - a record number of voters have registered to cast ballots in the election.
Escambia County officials have tallied hundreds of new registrants, and absentee ballot applications were up as well.
National polls are tightening, but many poll-watchers have been watching the predictions in individual states to guess at the outcome of the race.
That's because what some voters might not remember is that in presidential elections, the final count is made by the Electoral College.
Lisa Hardy, history instructor at Jefferson Davis Community College, said members of the Electoral College cast their votes based on the popular votes cast in their states.
Only two states - Main and Nebraska - divide their electoral college votes by congressional district. In all other states, all of that state's electors are expected to vote for the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state.
But Hardy said there is also a chance the popular vote could be overturned by members of the Electoral College. While it isn't looking likely this year, according to the polls, there is a slim chance of an electoral college tie - 269 to 269.
On the county ballot, voters in the Brewton area will be deciding who will be the representative for Escambia County Commission District 2 and Escambia County School Board District 1.
Vying for the commission seat are independent Norman Miller and Democrat Raymond Wiggins.
In the Escambia County School Board District 1 seat, incumbent Democrat Michael Goolsby is being challenged by Republican Lawton Shipp.
In statewide races, Democrat Vivian Davis Figures and incumbent Republican Jeff Sessions are in a contest to determine the position of U.S. senator. Other state races include state representative for 1st Congressional District Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, who is running unopposed; Associate Justice of Supreme Court - Democrat Deborah Bell Paseur and Republican Greg Shaw; Court of Civil Appeals Judge - Democrat Kimberly Harbison Drake and Republican Bill Thompson; Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 1 - Democrat Clyde Jones and Republican Beth Kellum; Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 2 - Democrat Aimee Cobb Smith and Republican Mary Windom; President of Public Service Commission - Democrat Lucy Baxley and Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh; Member of State Board of Education, District 1 - Democrat Kenyon Berry and Republican Randy McKinney. The office of Escambia County Tax Assessor held by Jim Hildreth is unopposed, as is the office of Escambia County Tax Collector held by Joy Wiggins.
Polls in Escambia County will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.