HUNTSVILLE | Scott County voters will get their first opportunity to cast ballots Friday as early voting begins for the Aug. 6 county general election and Tennessee’s state and federal primary elections.
Early voting will be conducted at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville, as well as the Oneida Municipal Services Building in Oneida. The early voting period continues through Saturday, Aug. 1, giving voters more than two weeks to cast their ballots before Election Day.
For many voters, earl voting is the most convenient way to participate in the election. Unlike Election Day, when voters must report to their assigned precinct, any registered Scott County voter can cast an early ballot at the County Office Building or the Oneida Municipal Building. If this year’s election follows modern trends, more people will cast ballots during the early voting period than on Election Day.
What to expect
Tennessee law requires voters to present a valid federal or Tennessee-issued photo ID before receiving a ballot. Acceptable forms of identification include a Tennessee driver’s license, a TN Dept. of Safety photo ID, a U.S. passport, military photo ID, Tennessee handgun carry permit, or other government-issued photo identification that meets state requirements. College student IDs and most employer-issued identification cards are not accepted.
Election officials recommend allowing a few extra minutes for first-time voters or anyone who has recently changed addresses or names. First-time voters who registered by mail or online whose photo ID is expired must also present either a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or another government document that shows their name and address.
The process is simple. Upon arrival, you’ll check in with a poll worker, presenting your ID and providing your signature. You’ll notify the registration assistants whether you want to vote in the Republican primary, the Democrat primary, or neither. You’ll then be given a print-out, which you hand to poll workers who are manning each voting machine. Your votes are made electronically and privately, with several pages of options to select from before you push the final button to cast your ballot.
What will be on the ballot?
Scott County voters will receive a county general election ballot featuring local offices and, depending on which party primary they choose to participate in, either a Republican or Democrat primary ballot for state and federal offices.
County-wide offices that are on the ballot include county mayor, sheriff, road superintendent, county attorney, trustee, county clerk, register of deeds, and circuit court clerk. Every voter will also select two representatives from their district for County Commission. Depending on which district you’re registered in, you may also have a school board race on your ballot. The school board races that are on this year’s ballot include the 1st District, 4th District, 5th District, 7th District, and three seats in the Oneida Special School District.
The county mayor’s race features incumbent Jerried Jeffers running against Republican nominee Dennis Jeffers and independent challengers Trent Cross and Jennifer Shockley.
The sheriff’s race features incumbent Brian Keeton, the Republican nominee, running against independent challengers Dennis Chambers and Kris Lewallen.
The road superintendent’s race features incumbent Kelvin King, the Republican nominee, running unopposed.
The county attorney’s race features incumbent John Beaty running unopposed.
The county clerk’s race features incumbent Felicia Bilbrey running against the Republican nominee, Amanda Chambers Sexton, and independent candidate Christina Kay Cross.
The circuit court clerk’s race features incumbent Donnie Phillips, the Republican nominee, running unopposed.
The trustee’s race features incumbent Rena Erwin running unopposed.
The register of deeds race features incumbent Ashley Newport Riseden, the Republican nominee, running unopposed.
In the County Commission races:
The 1st District finds incumbents David Jeffers and David “Blue” Day running against Allen Phillips and Elaine Lowe.
The 2nd District finds incumbents Taylor Buttram Stephens and Joyce Potter Keeton running against Adam King.
The 3rd District finds four candidates on the ballot: Mike Keeton, Ronald Keeton, Daniel Murley, and Dacy Williams.
The 4th District finds incumbents Kenny Chadwell and Shonda Gray running unopposed.
The 5th District finds incumbent Kelly Posey-Chitwood joined by challengers Zack Strunk and Ralph Trieschmann.
The 6th District finds incumbent Colby Burke joined by challengers Jason Perry and Torrey Slaven.
The 7th District finds incumbents Jared Burke and Tom Payne running against challengers Kris Byrd and Anthony Carson.
Among school board races:
The 1st District finds incumbent Tommy Silcox running against challenger Rhonda Marlow Davis.
The 4th District finds incumbent Kimberly Kidd running unopposed.
The 5th District finds incumbent Angela Anderson King running against challenger Roger Douglas.
The 7th District finds incumbent Tressa Murphy running against challenger B. Matthew Stiltner.
The Oneida Special School District finds incumbents Kevin Byrd and Mark Matthews joined by challengers Stuart Jones and Benji Jacobs in a three-way race.
There are also judicial questions on this year’s ballot, including retention questions for the Court of Appeals Eastern and Western Divisions, the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Division, and state Supreme Court.
On the Republican primary ballot:
The race for the U.S. House of Representatives, where incumbent John Rose is not seeking re-election as he chooses instead to seek the Republican nomination for governor, finds four candidates on the ballot: Natisha Brooks, Johnny Garrett, Jon Henry, and Van Hilleary.
The race for governor features three candidates: Marsha Blackburn, Monty Fritts, and John Rose.
The race for U.S. Senate finds incumbent Bill Hagerty running unopposed.
The state House of Representatives finds incumbent Kelly Keisling running unopposed.
On the Democrat primary ballot:
The race for U.S. House of Representatives features five candidates, including Lore Bergman, Mike Croley, Christopher Martin Finley, Miriam Leibowitz, and Chaney Mosley.
The race for governor features five candidates, including Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Jerri Green, Adam Kurtz, and Kevin Lee McCants.
The race for U.S. Senate also features five candidates, including Marquita Bradshaw, Maria Brewer, Kevin Lee McCants, Civil Miller-Watkins, and Diana Onye-Jiaka.
The race for state House of Representatives finds Seth McMillan running unopposed.
There are also state committee candidates on each primary ballot.
What are the early voting hours?
Early voting hours at both the Oneida Municipal Services Building and the Scott County Office Building are:
Friday, July 17: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 18: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Monday, July 20: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday, July 23: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, July 24: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 25: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Monday, July 27: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday, July 30: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, July 31: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
