Here’s your sign: Early Voting kicks off in Carter County
Published 5:38 pm Wednesday, April 13, 2022
1 of 9
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Young and old alike were out working for votes for their candidate as evidenced by Trustee candidate Jeff Guinn and his family.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
These campaign workers have big smiles on their face as they work for their respective candidate on Wednesday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Carter County Sheriff's candidate Kim Birchfield waves as cars pass by the Election Commission building on Wednesday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
It's never a bad idea to have a canopy set up while campaigning in the event of rain. These two campaign workers enjoy a chat on Wednesday afternoon.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
A cold bottle of water and a comfortable chair is all a worker needs as he holds a sign in support of his candidate.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Early Voting kicked off on Wednesday as candidates and their campaign workers were out in full force waving at passerbys and holding their campaign signs.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters
A large number of candidate signs line the sidewalk across from the Carter County Election Commission building.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters
Carter County Sheriff candidate Mike Fraley (left) and a campaign worker man their signs.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters
District 4 Commission candidate Danny Deal (left) and Mayor Candidate Danny Ward.
The doors to the Carter County Election Commission opened at 9 a.m. on Wednesday to officially kick off the first day of Early Voting in the county.
The early-voting period runs each weekday and Saturday through April 28. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voters are reminded that there will be no voting on Good Friday, April 15.
“It’s been a little slow today for the first day,” said Election Administrator Tracy Harris. More than 200 voters had passed through the polling booth as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Harris attributed some of the low attendance to the Easter holiday and Race Week in Bristol at the Bristol Motor Speedway.
Pansy Harrison who has worked the polls for the last 17 years suggested that some of the issues with voter turnout on the first day was “people just don’t know who to vote for.”
“There has been more older people who have passed through today and a few younger ones,” said Harrison. “People are confused on who is running because there are so many people out there.
“They can’t decide who to vote for. In the past week, I have had several people ask me about this person and that person and I can’t tell them anything because I don’t know the people. With it being the sheriff’s election, we always have a crowd of people for that.”
According to Election Commission Chairman Junior Stanley, the commission has done everything possible to streamline the process.
“We have someone sitting outside to help those who may need to update their address by bringing them directly into the office to get that taken care of so they don’t have to do that when they get to the polling station,” said Stanley.
“Also, if there are elderly people wanting to vote, she will bring them through the side door here to allow them to vote so they don’t have to wait in line. We have also placed a cooler of water out here for the voters while they wait. Basically, we are doing everything that we can to make this an enjoyable and quick election process.”
Voters are reminded of a couple of logistical matters when voting at the election commission. “On April 28, the First Baptist Church parking lot will be closed off that afternoon for food distribution,” said Harris. “Voters can park in the upper parking lot and in the election commission parking lot. Please be courteous and DO NOT park at the Health Department on ANY Early Voting days through the week because the elderly, pregnant mothers and mothers with small children need those parking spaces.”
