The presidential primary is quickly approaching and the voter registration deadline will be here next week.
Though the Super Tuesday primary will likely have a large turnout because of the presidential race, it will be quieter on the local front.
“We also have the county Republican primary, but we have no candidates,” said Tipton County Administrator of Elections Cindy Pinner.
This doesn’t mean there will be no one on the ballot, it simply means the persons running for the county offices in the primary – assessor of property and constables in districts 5 and 7 – will not be running as Republicans or Democrats.
“Rose (Cousar) has picked up her petition and will be running in August, but no one put in for constable,” she said.
The only other county general offices on the ballot this year are the odd-numbered school board districts.
Feb. 3 is the first day to pick up petitions for these offices and is also the last day to register to vote in the March 3 primary.
Who qualifies to run?
The state has a list of qualifications for each office. Each candidate must meet the basic qualification set forth in TCA 8-18-101, which includes things like not being a convicted felon, having a judgment against them for money owed to the government, enlisted in the military or holding office in a foreign country.
Assessors of property must live in the county they represent and cannot hold office with the county commission.
Constables must be 21 years old, a qualified voter, have a high school diploma or GED, have no felony convictions or a discharge from the military that is other than honorable.
The qualifying deadline is April 12.
Odd-numbered school board districts are also on the ballot for the Aug. 6 election, and it will be the primary for the District 81 state representative, District 32 state senate and District 8 U.S. representative races.
Municipal elections, and the presidential election, will take place on Nov. 3.
Changes ahead
This year there is also a change for voters in Atoka and Munford.
Voting will no longer take place at Munford City Hall beginning with early voting, which starts on Feb. 12.
Voters will now go to First Baptist Atoka.
“Munford City Hall was fabulous, they were good to us,” Pinner said. “They took really good care of us, but they have a lot going on, they’re busy with court and meetings. (At the church) we can have more room, there’s more parking and we can have it secluded for just us and we’ll have a wide open space. At Munford, if it was cold or rainy and it was busy, like during a presidential race, people would have to stand outside if there were a lot of people. It just couldn’t accommodate everybody. At the church there is a huge, long corridor to go down before you get to the voting area, so you’ll be inside, out of the elements.”
On election days, Munford’s regular polling location has been moved to Munford Baptist Church’s Family Life Center.
Pinner is also excited about electronic poll books on election day, which will make the process more efficient.
She encourages voters to visit govotetn.com to register for the primary by March 3.
For more information, see https://www.tiptonco.com/election_commission/index.php.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
