Thursday is the last day to vote early for the May 3 State and County Primary Election

Published 5:27 pm Friday, April 22, 2022

This is the last weekend for voters seeking to cast early votes in the upcoming state and county primaries.

The early voting period for the Carter County May 3 State and County Primary continues through Thursday.

“During early voting, Carter County residents have the convenience and flexibility of daily and Saturday hours,” said Tracy Tanner Harris, Carter County Administrator of Elections. “I encourage voters to take advantage of this and cast their ballot early.”

A total of 1,020 voters cast early voting ballots in the first week, and Harris said the pace is slow for a ballot filled with major county offices. More than 350 fewer early voting and absentee ballots have been cast in the first week compared to the 2018 totals for the same timeframe.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett also released a statement encouraging Carter Countians to take advantage of the early voting period. “State and local leaders make decisions that affect our lives every day. That’s why I’m urging Carter County voters to take advantage of our state’s generous early voting period and vote,” said Hargett.

To vote early or on Election Day, Carter County voters 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 expired.

College student IDs are not acceptable. For more information about what types of ID are acceptable and other election details, visit GoVoteTN.gov.

“This is the last Saturday to vote early,” Harris said. “Polls will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3.”

The deadline to apply for an absentee by-mail ballot is Tuesday, April 26. To receive an absentee by-mail ballot, voters must submit a written application to the Carter County Election Commission. Applications can be sent by mail to 116 Holston Ave., Elizabethton, TN 37643, by fax to 423-547-1534 or by email to elections@cartercountytn.gov. If emailing the application, the document must include the required information, your scanned signature, and be attached to the email.

Completed absentee by-mail ballots must be returned by mail to the Carter County Election Commission. Ballots must be received before the polls close on Election Day, Tuesday, May 3. THEY MUST COME THROUGH THE MAIL.

To find early voting and Election Day polling locations, hours, view sample ballots and more, Carter County residents can visit https://1uucal33opcj2v2013fuxovn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/SAMPLE-BALLOT-MAY-PRIMARY-2022.pdf, GoVoteTN.gov or the Secretary of State’s free GoVoteTN app. The GoVoteTN app is free to download in the App Store or Google Play.

For more information about early voting, voting absentee by-mail and other election information, visit GoVoteTN.gov or contact the Carter County Election Commission at 423-542-1822 or elections@cartercountytn.gov.