Beginning Friday, July 16, registered voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for the August 5 state primary and county general elections.
Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections for DeKalb County, is encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting.
“Local voters have come to enjoy the benefits and convenience of voting early,” Administrator Stanley said. “Voters can vote at their convenience and not worry about rushing to the polls on Election Day.”
“In November 2008, approximately 58 percent of the registered voters who voted in the election in Tennessee took advantage of early voting,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “I expect a significant number of voters to vote early this election as well.”
Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins will be kicking off the first day of early voting by casting his own ballot.
“Early voting is convenient and has become very popular in Tennessee,” Coordinator Goins said. “I know I will be busy on Election Day, so voting early ensures my vote will be cast within my schedule. It just makes sense to vote at a time convenient to me.”
For people who cannot or would prefer not to vote on Election Day, early voting provides an additional 14-day period to cast ballots, including three Saturdays this election year. Voters may vote in their county general elections, as well as the state primary elections. Voters choosing to vote in the state primaries will select either the Republican or Democrat ballot.
DeKalb County will be conducting early voting at the DeKalb County Courthouse. The hours for early voting will be 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Early voting ends Saturday, July 31.
The DeKalb County General Election features only one county-wide contested race, two contested district county commission races, and three contested district races for the school board.
Incumbent Republican Road Supervisor Kenny Edge will face Democratic challenger James D. Sprague.
The contested county commission races are in the fifth and seventh districts.
Candidates in the fifth district are Republican Jerry Adcock, Democratic incumbent John Green, Democrat Bobby Taylor, and Independent candidate Lloyd Emmons. Two will be elected.
In the seventh district, the candidates are Democratic candidate Jimmy Poss, Democratic incumbent Larry Summers, and Independent candidate Richard Kinsey. Two will be elected.
The second, third, and fourth district school board races are also contested.
In the second district, Incumbent Charles L. Robinson faces a challenge from Jerry W. Johnson. Johnathan Willoughby will try to unseat Incumbent Kenny Rhody in the third district while in the fourth district, the candidates are Billy S. Miller and Larry Redmon.
School board candidates do not run as Republicans or Democrats, but as Independents.
Meanwhile, the following candidates on the DeKalb County General Election ballot are unopposed:
Circuit Court Judge Part 1: Amy V. Hollars.
District Attorney General: Randall A. York
County Mayor: Mike Foster
Trustee: Sean Driver
Sheriff: Patrick Ray
Circuit Court Clerk: Katherine Pack
County Clerk: Mike Clayborn
Register of Deeds: Jeff McMillen
County Commission (1st district):
Mason Carter
Elmer Ellis, Jr.
County Commission (2nd district)
Bobby Joines
Jack E, Barton, III
County Commission (3rd district)
Bradley Hendrix
Jerry Scott
County Commission (4th district)
Wayne Cantrell
David McDowell
County Commission (6th district)
Jeff Barnes
Marshall Ferrell
School Board Member (1st district)
John D. Foutch
School Board Member (7th district)
Johnny Lattimore
The general election ballot also includes two Judicial Retention Questions, asking whether Sharon Gail Lee shall be retained or replaced in the office as a Judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court; and whether John W. McClarty shall be retained or replaced in the office as a Judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Division.
Meanwhile, the three incumbent aldermen in the City of Dowelltown will be unopposed for re-election, Bradley Driver, Keith Farler, and Ronald Griffith.
Candidates for Governor in the Tennessee Republican Primary include Bill Haslam, Joe Kirkpatrick, Basil Marceaux, Sr., Ron Ramsey, and Zach Wamp.
Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 6th Congressional District are Diane Black, Dave Evans, Gary Dewitt Mann, Bruce McLellan, Kerry E. Roberts, Jim Tracy, and Lou Ann Zelnik
Republican candidates for the Tennessee Senate in the 17th District are Incumbent Mae Beavers and challengers Gordon Borck, and Susan M. Lynn
Republican candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 40th District is Incumbent Terry Lynn Weaver.
Republican State Executive Committeeman 17th district candidates are C. Brent Baldwin, Albert B. McCall, Sr. and Bob Ousley. One can be nominated.
Republican State Executive Committeewoman 17th district, Susan C. Witcher.
Meanwhile Mike McWherter is the only candidate for Governor in the Tennessee Democratic Primary.
Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 6th Congressional District are Henry Clay Barry, Devora E. Butler, Brett Carter, George T. Erdel, and Ben Leming
Democratic candidates for the Tennessee Senate in the 17th District are Aubrey T. Givens, Sam Hatcher, and George McDonald
Democratic candidates for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 40th District are James C. Hale and Jamie Winkler.
David R. Harper is the only Democratic candidate for State Executive Committeeman in the 17th District.
Two Democratic candidates, Mary A. Patterson and Baylor Bone Swindell are seeking the position of State Executive Committeewoman in the 17th District.
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