With the county’s General Election and the state and federal primary elections just under two months away, several individuals have now thrown their names in the hat as write-in candidates.

Tennessee law allows for individuals to run campaigns as write-in candidates providing they meet the qualifications for the office and complete a Certificate of Write-In Candidacy. So far, seven individuals have certified as write-in candidates for races that will be on the ballot in Carter County in August.

While individuals who qualify as write-in candidates become certified candidates, their names will not appear on the ballot. To cast a vote for a write-in candidate, voters must select the button labeled “Write-In” on the ballot under the office they wish to cast their vote for. The voter is then directed to type in the name of the individual they want to vote for on the voting screen.

Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris said it is not uncommon to have several write-in candidates, especially for the county’s General Election.

“We will have more in before the deadline,” Harris said.

The deadline for write-in candidates to complete their certification is noon on Wednesday, June 13.

In addition to the seven who have completed their certification, Harris said there are a few more who have picked up their certification form but have not turned it back into her office as of yet.

Of the seven current write-in candidates, five are seeking election to the post of constable in various districts of the county. Each of the county’s eight districts elects two individuals to serve as constables for the district.

Ronald Reed and Samuel Myers have certified as write-in candidates for the office of constable in the county’s 1st District, which includes the Hunter, Midway, and Unaka precincts. Reed was a candidate for that office during the May 1 County Primary Election but came in third in a race between three candidates, losing by a margin of just over 200 votes. Reed and Myers will face off against Republican nominees for Constable of the 1st District Gary Perry and Larry Perry, whose names will appear on the August 2 ballot.

Scotty Hall has certified as a write-in candidate for the office of constable in the county’s 3rd District, which includes the Central, Keenburg, Range, and Watauga precincts. Hall was a candidate for that office during the May 1 County Primary Election but came in third in a race between three candidates, losing by a margin of just 16 votes. Hall will face off against Republican nominees for Constable of the 3rd District Scott Whaley and Jerry Miller, whose names will appear on the August 2 ballot.

Timothy Hopson Sr. has certified as a write-in candidate for the office of constable in the county’s 5th District, which is the Happy Valley precinct. Hopson will face off against Republican nominees for Constable of the 5th District Mark Carrier and Larry Presnell Jr., whose names will appear on the August 2 ballot.

Jonathan Potter has certified as a write-in candidate for the office of constable in the county’s 6th District, which includes the Elk Mills, Hampton, Little Milligan, and Valley Forge precincts. Potter will face off against Republican nominees for Constable of the 6th District John Henson and Bobby Trivette, whose names will appear on the August 2 ballot.

In addition to the local write-in candidates, two individuals have filed Certificates of Write-In Candidacy with the Tennessee Division of Elections seeking Republican party nominations in the August 2 federal Primary Election.

Tommy N. Hay, of Monterey, and Tom Emerson Jr., of Brighton, have both been certified by the state as write-in candidates for the Republican Nomination for the United States Senate.

“We always have some for Senate or U.S. House,” Harris said.

Harris said candidates seeking write-in candidacy for local offices could complete their forms through her office. However, she said, those seeking to become write-in candidates to state-wide or federal offices can pick up the forms at the Carter County Election Commission, but the Tennessee Division of Elections must do the certification.

For more information on the upcoming August 2 election or on becoming a write-in candidate, contact the Carter County Election Commission at 423-542-1822.