By Graham Heath countynews@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the county in the 2012 Presidential Primary election, with some election officials expecting a moderate turnout. Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, a Georgia native,  made two stops in Baldwin County Saturday before heading to Hoover and Birmingham for Saturday and Sunday stumping, with a Sunday interview with Bob Schieffer from a Birmingham TV station. Later that day, he headed to campaign stops in Mississippi. Gingrich and Mitt Romney both explored the Southern electoral current on the eve of the primary, and both mentioned Southern nomenclature in speeches  — “Ya’ll,” and southern cuisine,“grits.” Probate Judge Tim Russell, up for re-election after being appointed probate judge after the retirement of Adrian Johns, has designated Baldwin County attorney Sam Crosby as the county’s primary election contact to eliminate any specter of impropriety while patrolling the county’s precincts today. Russell said he will not be in the Bay Minette office on election day. He will be in the Foley Courthouse office, according to Violetta Smith, a Baldwin County Probate Officer staff who also is election manager.  Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said deputies will present a presence at all polling sites to look for improprieties. “Deputies will patrol the polling sites thoughtout the day,” Mack said. “When the polls close at 7 p.m., deputies will secure and transport ballots from a majority of the sites. The ballots will be transported to Bay Minute to the Baldwin County Commission Chambers where they will be turned over to probate office staffers for tabulation in public view. “The process has worked very smoothly in the past,” Mack said. “At best, I expect a moderate turnout but I am always hopeful that each registered voter will vote and participate in our election process. If any citizen has a question or concern regarding the polling sites on election day they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.”