Audio clip
Issac White and Tess Phillips
PDF: Bradley County August 7 potential candidates
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Some of Bradley County’s youngest voters are eager to cast their first ballot this year.
Each week eligible students at Bradley Central, Walker Valley and Cleveland high schools have an opportunity to fill out voter registration forms. Teachers bring the forms to the Bradley County Election Commission office.
“Someone from each of the high schools comes in every week. They are so regular about it we can now recognize them when they walk in,” said Kalin Morris, assistant election administrator.
Election Administrator Fran Green said 504 18-year-olds were on the registered-voter list Thursday afternoon. The office was closed Friday for the Easter holiday.
Bradley High School teacher Bill Bates said he keeps blank registration forms available for eligible students.
He said the most frequent question he gets from students in his history and government classes is, “When is the deadline?”
Ms. Morris refers to the registration form for the answer.
“You must be 18 years old on or before the next election,” she said. The registration form must be delivered to the election office at least 30 days before the election, she said.
Voters have two more election days this year. For the Aug. 7 county general election and state primary, the last day to register is July 8. For the Nov. 4 state general election and U.S. presidential election, the registration deadline is Oct. 6.
Why should an 18-year-old, or a 17-year-old who turns 18 before the next election, register to vote?
“Because I am an American,” said Issac White, a student in Mr. Bates’ class. “Everybody should vote because your opinion counts.”
Classmate Tess Phillips agreed.
“I want to have a voice in my future,” she said. “I want to see my country the best it can be.”
Potential candidates also are gearing up for the August election.
Incumbent state Rep. Eric Watson, who represents District 22, and Rep. Kevin Brooks, of District 24, already have filed qualifying petitions for the Republican primary.
Local nonpartisan races include county and city school boards and the Cleveland City Council.
On Thursday afternoon, 27 local petitions had been picked up. Some have been completed and returned, and some still are circulating. The filing deadline is April 3.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
