A large number of first-time voters are expected to cast their ballot in the November Tennessee General Election.
The DeKalb County Election Commission office reported recently that 850 new registrations have been logged since Jan. 1, with 387 of those since the August election.
“One in eight active voters registered for the first time this year or had their registration reactivated after they had been purged for lack of participation for a number of years,” said DeKalb County’s Administrator of Elections, Dennis Stanley. “That is a large number for a county this size and is an obvious reflection in the interest in this year’s presidential race.”
The registration deadline has passed and a recent count showed DeKalb County with 10,195 active voters. “There are over 1,000 more voters who are labeled ‘inactive’ who could still show up and vote,” Stanley said.
A breakdown of the ‘active’ registrations show there are over 500 more females registered to vote than males and the largest age group is those between the ages of 36-65 at 5,153 voters.
Meanwhile, early voting begins Wednesday and local officials are expecting a heavy turnout during both early voting and election day.
“We have received numerous calls from people asking when Early Voting begins, so we expect to be busy during that early period and that’s a good thing,” Stanley said. “Early voting is so convenient and voters should take advantage of that opportunity.”
Early voting will be held Oct. 19 through Nov. 3. Hours are:
Mondays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon.
“The local election commission always tries to set various times to accommodate the different segments of the population,” Stanley said. “They try to make it as easy as possible for a voter to find time to cast their ballot.”
Election Day is Nov. 8 and polls open in DeKalb County at 8 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.
The following Presidential candidates are on the ballot:
• Republican: Donald J. Trump for President and Michael R. Pence for Vice President
• Democrat: Hillary Clinton for President and Tim Kaine for Vice President
• Independents:
“Rocky” Roque De La Fuente for President and Michael Steinberg for Vice President
Gary Johnson for President and William F. Weld for Vice President
Alyson Kennedy for President and Osborne Hart for Vice President
Mike Smith for President and Daniel White for Vice President
Jill Stein for President and Ajamu Baraka for Vice President
In addition, there are eight certified write-in candidates for President whose names are not on the ballot:
Darrell L. Castle
Cherunda Fox
Tom Hoefling
Kyle Kenley Kopitke
Lauvence Kotlikoff
David Limbaugh
Evan McMullin
Marshall Schoenke
Candidates for 6th District U.S. House of Representatives are:
Republican: Diane Black
Democrat: David W. Kent
Independent: David Ross
Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives 40th District are:
Republican: Terri Lynn Weaver
Democrat: Gayla Colvert Hendrix
Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives 46th District are:
Republican: Mark Pody
Democrat: Amelia Morrison Hipps
The on the premises referendum in the City of Smithville choices include:
“For legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in City of Smithville”
“Against legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in City of Smithville”
The choices for the wine at food stores referendum in the City of Smithville include:
“For legal sale of wine at retail food stores in the City of Smithville”
“Against legal sale of wine at retail food stores in the City of Smithville”
The ballot is available online at www.dekalbelections.com.
If you have any questions or concerns, call 597-4146 or stop by the election commission office in Room 104 of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Office hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
