Editor’s Note: Once election results are released tonight, The Fairhope Courier will publish them immediately on Twitter @fairhopenews, and shortly thereafter at GulfCoastNewsToday.com.

FAIRHOPE, Alabama— Bright blue skies and fall-like weather combined with hotly contested elections in all six races could explain what some are calling heavier than usual turnout this morning.

The polls opened today at 7 a.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center and will close four hours from now at 7 p.m.

By 8 a.m. today, 411 people had voted, an election official said, and lines of traffic entering the polling place were congested all morning long, according to observers.

All but two races will definitely be decided after the votes are tallied tonight. With three candidates each in elections for mayor and City Council Place 3, if no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, then a runoff election will take place Oct. 23.

All six races (for mayor and five council places) are contested and some races could be close, some observers say.

In 2008, only 47% of registered showed up, but registered voters in the city have increased since then from 11,580 to 12,319, according to the city clerk’s office.

That year saw a runoff for mayor, with Mayor Tim Kant prevailing for a third term. This year he faces outgoing City Council President Lonnie Mixon, as well as Chris Warner, who ran for mayor in 2008 bud didn’t make the runoff.

In Place 3, three candidates are vying for that open seat: Diana Brewer, Mike McPherson and Vince Valentim.

In the remaining four council races, the following candidates square off:

*Place 1: Councilwoman Debbie Quinn v. Jack Burrell, who also ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2008.

*Place 2: Councilman Dan Stankoski  v. Rich Mueller.

*Place 4: Councilman Mike Ford v. Kyle Brady.

*Place 5: Councilman Rick Kingrea v. Kevin Boone.

After the polls close at 7 p.m. today, reporters, campaign workers and others are expected to wait outside the locked Civic Center doors while votes are tallied inside by electronic voting machines.

The results are expected to be taped to the glass doors there tonight.

The election results will be “canvassed” in council chambers on Sept. 18, when the races will be formally decided.

In the past week, trucks and cars for some candidates have been parked on Section Street eading into town and across from the polling place with campaign signs highly visible making clear that a local election is under way.