Early Voting Begins Wednesday

Early voting begins Wednesday (October 18) for the Special 17th Senatorial District Republican and Democratic primaries, set for November 7th.
The election is the result of a vacancy created in the district when State Senator Mae Beavers resigned to focus on her gubernatorial campaign. The District includes DeKalb, Smith, Macon, Cannon, Clay and Wilson counties.
Only one candidate is on the ballot for both primaries. State Representative Mark Pody is looking to move to the upper chamber and is on the Republican primary ballot. Wilson County attorney Mary Alice Carfi is the lone candidate on the Democratic primary ballot. They will face each other in the General Election set for December 19th.
Early voting hours for the primaries are as follows: Mondays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. until Noon; Wednesdays 9 a.m. until Noon; Thursdays 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. until Noon and Saturdays 9 a.m. until Noon. All early voting will be held on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.
The special senatorial elections are just the beginning of what will be a busy political season in 2018 starting with the DeKalb County Democratic Primary. Candidates may pick up a qualifying petition beginning November 17th at the election commission office.
The primary winners will take on any Republican and Independent candidates in the August DeKalb General Election. Independent candidate petitions will also be available beginning November 17. Republicans will choose their August candidates by caucus. The qualifying deadline for those offices is Noon, February 15.
Meanwhile, there will also be five non-partisan school board seats on the August 2018 ballot. Candidates for school board in districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 can pick up petitions beginning January 5, 2018.
All four cities in the county will also have August elections. The first day candidates in those races can pick up petitions is also January 5.