Iowa and New Hampshire voters have had their say. Now it’s time for Tennesseans to head to the ballot box.
Early voting begins today in the presidential preference primaries as Warren countians get a turn at determining who will become our next president.
“We will be open at 9 a.m. Wednesday regardless of the weather,” said election administrator Donna Smith, noting early voting will be held in the normal early voting room at the back of the county building on Locust Street.
Early voting will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays through Feb. 23. There will be no early voting on Presidents Day, Feb. 15.
“People need to bring photo ID and their voter registration card,” Smith said, noting voters will have a choice to either vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries. They cannot vote in both.
Those who vote in the Democratic Primary will have a streamlined ballot as only the presidential preference primary and two local offices will be included. The local races include an unopposed run for re-election by Property Assessor Beth Woodlee Martin and an unopposed run by Linda Jones for the 6th District Warren County Commission seat formerly held by her late husband.
The Republican ballot will be much larger since the GOP opted to have the public elect its convention delegates.
“There are 173 delegates in all,” Smith noted, adding voters get to vote for up to 14 at-large delegates and three district delegates.
For those who only want to vote for their favorite Republican candidate for president, it is possible to fast forward through the ballot. There are no local offices being contested on the GOP ticket.
“You have to view every page before it will let you finalize your vote,” Smith said. “You don’t have to necessarily cast a vote on every page, but you have to look at the page.”
Smith suggests voters look at a sample ballot before voting. There was one published in the Friday edition of the Southern Standard.
A ballot is also available at www.warrentnelections.com.