According to DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley, voter registration in the county has been brisk this election season, and registrations have enjoyed an increase in anticipation of the November election.
“We have had 671 new voter registrations since Jan. 1,” Stanley said. “The largest number of registrations, 346, were logged after the March Presidential Preference Primary through the end of June. Since July, we have added 231 new registrations.”
Stanley said the numbers suggest a heavy turnout in November.
“Those numbers indicate a great deal of interest in this election,” Stanley said. “In November 2012 nearly 6,000 voted here and we anticipate that many or more in this election cycle. As of Thursday, there were 11,562 total registered voters in DeKalb County (10,038 active) and with the voter registration deadline set for Oct. 11, that number will grow a little larger before voting begins,” Stanley said.
The official ballot for the November contests in Tennessee has been released. Seven Presidential candidates; three candidates for congress in the sixth District; two candidates for 40th district house of representatives and two for the 46th are on the ballot. Smithville voters will decide on two liquor referendums, one on liquor by the drink in restaurants and the other on wine in grocery stores.
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.
Meanwhile, early voting will be held Oct. 19-Nov. 3 on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Hours are Mondays 1-5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2-6 p.m.; Fridays 9a.m. - 1 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. - noon.
Early voting will be held October 19-November 3 on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Hours are Mondays 1-5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2-6 p.m.; Fridays 9a.m.- 1 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. – Noon.
While some events are planned around the square during early voting, Stanley asked that the public be respectful of the campaign-free zone and of voters looking for parking spaces.
“We want to be supportive of the events coming up, but at the same time we want to remind the public that there is a 100 ft. campaign free zone around the entire courthouse during voting hours,” Stanley said. “And we want to remind everyone that voters will be coming to vote during that event and to keep as many parking spots open as possible.”
Stanley also reminded workers attending training class on Monday and Tuesday to be aware of the paving going on around the square those two days. Workers are asked to park in the city parking lot near Love-Cantrell Funeral Home.
Stanley also said that the early voting machines and election Day voting machines that will be used for the Nov. 8 elections may be examined Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the DeKalb County Courthouse. Please notify the election commission office by noon on Oct. 3 if you plan to attend.
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.
