Early voting kicks off

BLOUNTVILLE -- Early voting kicked off in Tennessee on Wednesday, April 15. In Sullivan County, by 11:04 a.m., 76 people had voted on the May 5 primary ballots at the Sullivan County Election Commission Office in downtown Blountville. "At this pace, it'll be 10,000 to 12,000" voters casting ballots out of about 107,000 registered voters, Administrator of Elections Jason Booher said Wednesday morning, repeating an earlier prediction. In an emailed update about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, the voter count had increased to 253, with a breakdown of 249 in the Republican primary and four in the Democratic primary. That compares to 215 in the first day of early voting in April of 2022, when the breakdown was 206 in the GOP and nine in the Democratic primary. Campaigners Wednesday included Sullivan County Mayoral Republican primary hopefuls Zane Vanover and Angie Stanley, who face no Democratic or independent opposition in the Aug. 6 general election. They were along a line of hopefuls set up outside the 100-foot line of demarcation where state law allows campaigning outside the polling place, most in sun tents or shelters on the summer-like day. Aside from the mayoral hopefuls, the following were set up by mid-day: District 4 County Commission hopeful Rick Hicks, incumbent Michael Cole, hopeful Josh Hayes and incumbent Joyce Crosswhite, all of Blountville. Also there was Kingsport school board incumbent and Vice President Melissa Woods; Republican incumbent Sheriff Jeff Cassidy, unopposed in the GOP primary but facing an independent in August; and unopposed GOP Commissioner of Highways hopeful Craig Ramey, who faces no Democratic or independent opposition Aug. 6. Early voting runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays at the Election Commission Office, 3258 Highway 126, through April 30, with Saturday hours 9 a.m.-noon. In Kingsport at the Civic Auditorium, 1550 Fort Henry Dr., and in Bristol at the Slater Center, 325 McDowell St., early voting runs weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. starting Thursday, April 23 and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25. Early voting in Hawkins County is 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays through April 30, 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays and extended hours of 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, April 30. At the Rogersville Courthouse, voting weekdays during the period is 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-noon and extended hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, April 30.