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Take advantage of early voting
Voting
All precautions are being made by the DeKalb County Election Commission to keep voters safe as early voting began Friday. Shown here is election worker Ivadell Randolph explaining voting procedures with Wade Smith.
Brenda Hooper
Election worker Brenda Hooper is shown behind a splash guard and wearing protective face shield while registering a voter. The election commission has taken all steps to keep things safe for its workers and voters alike.


By angie meadows

Early voting began last Friday, and the Election Commission recorded a total of 190 voters. Adding Saturday’s count, there was a total of 263 votes in for the August 6 election.

On Friday 76 voted in person while five absentee votes were recorded. Adding previous absentee ballots returned and voters at the NHC Healthcare and The Webb House Retirement Center, that brings the total to 190.

“There was a very good turnout for the first day,” said Dennis Stanley, DeKalb County Administrator of Elections, “particularly in light of the COVID-19 situation. Our staff has been working diligently to prepare for this election. We have ensured our polling locations have room for social distancing and have taken other measures to protect voters and poll officials it is great to see all of our plans in action and I encourage voters to take advantage of early voting to skip Election Day lines.”

According to the DeKalb County Election Commission Office, 73 people cast ballots Saturday. Of that number 49 voted in the Tennessee Republican Primary, 20 in the State Democratic Primary, and 4 voted only in the DeKalb County General Election without voting in either state primary.

The City of Smithville vote stands at 41 through Saturday including in-person and absentee ballots but does not include property rights voters.

For the first two days of early voting, a total of 137 have voted in the Tennessee GOP primary, 116 in the Tennessee Democratic Primary, and 10 have voted only in the DeKalb County General Election without voting in either state primary.

Hours for early voting are Mondays 1-5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2-6 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Election Day voting at all 15 precincts will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 6.