Improvements completed at local precincts in preparation for Election Day set for August 1st

CELINA-The first ballots in the August 1 General Election and State and Federal Primaries will be cast here next week.

Early voting gets underway Friday, July 12 and will run through Saturday, July 27 at the Celina Fire Hall located here at 211 Green Street.

Voters will be able to cast their early ballots from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.

Those unable to vote by personal appearance either early or on election day have until Thursday, July 25 to request an absentee ballot.

Voters on the permanent absentee list will automatically receive an application by mail.

Precincts

upgraded

In preparation for the election, election day precincts around the county have received upgrades, including those at Butler’s Landing, Maple Grove, Pea Ridge, and Denton’s Crossroads.

“Voter’s will notice a difference in the Butler’s Landing voting precinct when they go back to the polls August 1st,” local election officials announced on social media.  “There has been a sidewalk added to make access easier, parking has been improved, and a cover has been added to the front door.

“Other improvements have been made around the county at our polling places,” they continued.  “Maple Grove and Pea Ridge have had new HVAC systems added, (and)  Denton”s Crossroads has had some roof improvements made.”

Officials are

recognized

The Clay County Election Commission also recognized some of their own on social media, as their Facebook page recently featured photos of local election officials receiving honors for their years of service from Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and the State Election Office.

Local election commissioners Ronald Bailey, Dennis Purcell, and Debi Burnette received certificates for their service.

Bailey has served 20 years, Purcell was recognized for 10 years, and Burnette for five years.

The ballot

The August ballot will feature a total of eight local candidates running for various offices, along with a long list of primary candidates vying for United States Senate, 6th District U.S. Representative, 12th District State Senate, 38th District State Representative, and party State Executive Commiteemen and Committeewomen seats.

Locally, Assessor of Property and County Trustee make up the countywide seats on the ballot, while one County Commission seat and four School Board spots are up for grabs.

Incumbents make up nearly all of the local field, as seven of the eight candidates are current office holders and six of those are guaranteed to retain their seats due to no opposition.

Countywide

Only one local incumbent will see a challenger, and that race is for the unexpired term of late Clay County County Trustee Charlie Key.

Angie Thompson was appointed to succeed Key upon his death, and she will be opposed by James “Tater” Johnson.

Like Thompson, incumbent Clay County Assessor of Property Angie Eads, is running for re-election—but she is guaranteed to retain her seat due to no opposition.

Commission,

school board

Also unopposed, will be the race to fulfill the unexpired term of former District 5 Clay County Commissioner Michael Miller.

Incumbent Elizabeth Boles will remain on the commission, after being appointed previously to fill the seat and due to having no challenger.

District 1 and District 4 Clay County School Board races will follow the same path, with incumbents retaining their seats due to a lack of opposition.

Mark Ashlock and Nick Melton will see no challengers in the 1st District, while 4th District school board members Benjamin Bailey and Vonda Weir will follow suit running unopposed.

Also appearing on the local ballot will be a one-man race for 13th Judicial District Judge Part III, a position currently held by Shawn C. Fry.

Primaries

In the August primary elections, voters will have a choice between a Democratic and Republican ballot.

The Democratic primary will feature two contested races.

Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Denise Brown, Gloria Johnson, and Civil Miller-Watkins will battle it out to become the U.S. Senate nominee, while Lore Bergman, Clay Faircloth, and Cyril Focht will vie to win the nomination for District 6 U.S. House.

Those running unopposed in the Democratic primary include Clay County native Carol V. Abney for District 12 State Executive Committeewoman, Robert M. Young for District 12 State Executive Committeeman, and Curtis Kelly for District 12 State Senate.

No candidate qualified for the 38th District State Representative Democratic nomination.

The Republican primary mirrors the Democratic Party’s ballot when it comes to the number of contested races.

The two nominations where challengers will be present include U.S. Senate and District 12 State Senate.

Incumbent U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn will see opposition from Tres Wittum, while current District 12 State Senator Ken Yager will be challenged by Teena Hedrick.

6th District U.S. Senator John Rose, 38th District State Representative Kelly Keisling, and 12th District State Executive Committeewoman Ann Ayers-Colvin are all running unopposed.

ID required

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day need to bring valid photo identification to the polls.

A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable, even if it is expired.

Student IDs and out of state driver’s license are not acceptable.  More information about what types of IDs are permitted is available on GoVoteTN.gov.

For more information about the upcoming election, contact the local election office at 931-243-2536.