Early Voting Begins Oct. 19

Early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 8 election begins on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Early voting will continue Monday through Saturday and end Thursday, Nov. 3.
Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification. Photo IDs issued by Tennessee state government, including driver’s licenses, or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.
More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found at <GoVoteTN.com>.
For a list of county election commissions and sample ballots, go to http://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php. For questions or concerns about the voting process, go to GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections toll free at 1-877-850-4959.
The last day to request and mail an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 1.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Election Day, residents vote at their local precinct,  7 a.m.–7 p.m. A sample ballot is on page 15 of this issue.

Local Election Commissions
Franklin County Election Commission, 839 Dinah Shore Blvd., Winchester, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–noon, Saturdays. On Monday, Oct. 31, open 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.,  (931) 967-1893;
Grundy County Election Commission, 68 Cumberland St., Altamont, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday, (931) 692-3551;
Marion County Election Commision, 109 Academy Ave., Jasper,
8 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday–Friday, (423) 942-2108.
For more information about ballots, dates and times for early voting go to http://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php.

Details for Upcoming Election on Nov. 4 : Council Candidates Named, Early Voting, Photo IDs

The Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election is 10 days away. Voters will need a valid government-issued identification card to participate. The candidates for the Community Council have been announced, and plans are being made to celebrate on election night.

Early voting for the general election is at the Franklin County Election Commission, 839 Dinah Shore Blvd., Winchester. The office is open 8 a.m.–noon on Saturday, Oct. 25; and 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., weekdays until Thursday, Oct. 30. 

For the election of new members to the Sewanee Community Council, early voters should go to the Provost’s Office, 8 a.m.–noon, and 1:30–4:30 p.m., weekdays, Oct. 24–Oct. 30.

In Sewanee voters will be selecting seven new members of the Community Council. 

The only contested election is in District 3. Annie Armour, Pixie Dozier and Paul Evans are the candidates for two seats. Armour is seeking re-election to represent this district.

In District 1, David Coe is running unopposed for re-election. In District 2, Bill Barton and Theresa Shackelford are running for the two vacancies; Shackelford is an incumbent in District 2. In District 4, Dennis Meeks and Andrew Sampson are both unopposed in their bid to return to the Council. 

The Franklin County general election ballot includes: governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional District, Tennessee House of Representatives 39th District, and four amendments to the Tennessee state constitution [see the Oct. 17 issue of the Messenger for details about the proposed amendments]. A link to a copy of the general election ballot is at <www.franklincotn.us/departments/election_commission/>. 

A photo ID is required to vote early at the Franklin County Election Commission, and on Nov. 4 at polling places. Since 2011 all voters in Tennessee are required to show a current government-issued photo ID: acceptable IDs are a current driver’s license or DMV-issued ID card, military ID, or U.S. passport; school-issued IDs, library cards, birth certificates or other forms of ID do not meet the requirement. 

The voting rights committee of the Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace (CCJP) is offering assistance for registered voters who do not currently have a valid ID. Registered voters with fixed or low incomes may be able to get an ID for no cost. For more information or to schedule assistance call CCJP at 598-9979.

After the polls close, CCJP is hosting its annual election night party and potluck, 7–9 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the home of Susan Holmes and Greg Maynard, 230 Tennessee Ave. Please bring a dish or snack and drink to share throughout the evening as the group watches the election results on television. For more information contact Charles Whitmer at (931) 636-7527 or email <charles.whitmer@gmail.com>.

Register to Vote for August Elections

The last day to register to vote in the upcoming August election is Tuesday, July 8. 

All voters must present an ID containing the voter’s name and photograph when voting at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day.

Examples of acceptable forms of identification, whether current or expired, include Tennessee driver licenses, U.S. passports, Department of Safety photo ID cards, U.S. military photo IDs, and other photo IDs issued by the federal or Tennessee state governments. 

Early voting in the Franklin County August elections begins on Friday, July 18. Voting takes place at the Franklin County Election Commission, 839 Dinah Shore Blvd., in Winchester. The office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturdays during early voting. Early voting ends on Saturday, Aug. 2.

The election will be on Thursday, Aug. 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On the ballot will be local elections (including seats on the school board and the county commission), area judgeships, and primaries for state elections (including the Fourth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives).

For more information about voting, contact Margaret Ottley at the Election Commission office at 967-1893.

Important Election Dates

Key deadlines related to the November general election on Nov. 6 are approaching.
The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 8.
Early voting begins at the commission office on Wednesday, Oct. 17. On weekdays, Oct. 17–Oct. 30, voting takes place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 20, early voting is 8 a.m.. to noon. On Saturday, Oct. 27, early voting is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On the final two days of early voting, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, the office will be open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Precincts will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To request an absentee ballot and vote by mail, there is a required form available from the Election Commission. Application must be made by Oct. 30; absentee ballots must be returned by Nov. 6.
For a copy of the form or more information about voting, call the Franklin County Election Commission at 967-1893.