Early voting begins today
Record turnout is expected
Early voting begins today in Anderson County and across Tennessee for the Nov. 5 general election — which this year includes the choice of the next U.S. president — and record turnout is expected.
Besides national and statewide contests, there are local municipal elections on the ballot as well, including the entire Norris City Council.
“I would encourage people to vote early,” said Mark Stephens, Anderson County’s elections administrator. “There are going to be lines because there is such high interest in this election, and we hope our voters will be patient.
“We’re at a record number of registered voters in Anderson County, and I believe there will be a big turnout,” he said, adding that he believes there will be more people voting early than on Election Day.
“We’ve added equipment and additional poll workers,” Stephens said. “I highly suggest people vote early.”
Anderson County now has 53,576 registered voters, the most in history, Stephens said.
Early voting will continue through Thursday, Oct. 31.
There are three locations set up for early voting in Anderson County.
They are in the Anderson County Fair Association Building at 218 Nave St., Clinton; the Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den), 102 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge; and the former Anderson County government office at 3310 Andersonville Highway, Norris.
Early-voting hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday.
The Norris location for early voting this time has been moved back to the space formerly occupied by the county tax office, rather than the current tax office where early voting took place in July.
“The new place is not big enough for this election,” Stephens said.
Leading the ballot is the U.S. presidential election, where there are multiple candidates running. But the real race is between former President Donald J. Trump, who won the Tennessee primary election as the Republican candidate; and the Democrat candidate, current Vice President Kamala Harris, who was never on a primary ballot, but was appointed to the ballot by the Democrat party.
President Joe Biden won the Democrat primary in Tennessee, but will not appear on the ballot, having been dropped by his own party.
The ballot also includes some Tennessee statewide races, along with municipal elections in Clinton, Oak Ridge, Norris, Oliver Springs and Rocky Top.
Among the statewide races, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is facing Democrat Gloria Johnson and three independent candidates. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann faces Democrat Jack Allen and two independents.
Republican Rick Scarbrough is facing Democrat Anne Backus for District 33 in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
State Rep. Ed Butler, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Joel Derek Hawn in state House District 41.
In Clinton, Lucas Heaton is facing Robert Herrell for the Ward 1 City Council seat; Larry Gann is unopposed for the Ward 2 council seat; and Matthew Foster is unopposed for the Ward 3 seat.
For the Clinton city Board of Education, three candidates are vying for two Ward 1 seats. They are Deborah J. Heaton, Republican; Joey Smith, Republican; and K.K. Meredith, independent. In Ward 3, Merle Pryse is unopposed as an independent candidate.
In Norris, seven people — including the five incumbents — are seeking election to the five City Council seats.
The incumbents are Mayor Chris Mitchell, Vice Mayor Charles P. “Chuck” Nicholson, Bill Grieve, Loretta Ann Painter and William Grinder. Challengers are former Councilman Ron Hill and newcomer James “Lee” Ragsdale, who was the only one of the seven candidates who did not show up for the recent council election forum that showcased those running for council.
In Oak Ridge, four candidates are running for three City Council seats. They are Jim Dodson, Derrick M. Hammond, Charles “Chuck” Hope Jr., and Ruth Pless Rizzie.
For Oak Ridge city judge, James T. “Jim” Normand is unopposed.
Five candidates are running for two Oak Ridge Board of Education seats. They are Republican Mary Crank, Democrats Ashley Craven and Tiffany Malone, and independents Sharon Gleason and Keith Jeter.
There also is a charter amendment on the ballot in Oak Ridge that would make Board of Education elections nonpartisan.
In Oliver Springs, Char-Lee Bailey and Kenneth T. Brown are running for the Ward 1 alderman seat on the Town Council. Terry Holland is running unopposed for the Ward 5 seat, and Becky Devaney is unopposed for Ward 6.
In Rocky Top, Keith Daniels is the only candidate on the ballot for two open City Council seats being vacated by Stacy Phillips and Zack Green.