Anyone wanting to early/advance vote in the primary election has until 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 27 to cast their in-person ballot at one of the county's five early voting sites.
Barbara Berry, the county's supervisor of elections, said advance voting can be done at the Chickamauga, Rossville, Fairyland and Rock Spring polling places as well as at the County Courthouse.
No one can vote on the Monday before an election day except those with mail-in absentee ballots, she said.
Those mail-in absentee ballots should be returned as soon as possible, Berry added. That is because state law states that any ballot not received by 5 p.m. at the post office or hand-delivered before 7 p.m. to the Board of Elections Office on election day cannot be counted.
Because this is the first election since districts were redrawn after Census 2010, there are a few changes.
Voters in the Rock Spring Precinct will vote across the street from Rock Spring United Methodist Church at the Rock Spring Athletic Association facility.
Berry said two state legislative districts have flip-flopped: House District 1 is now House District 2 and vice-versa, with the districts being divided at Center Post and Chickmauga.
State Rep. Martin Scott announced last spring that he would not seek re-election as District 1's representative.
Three candidates - John Deffenbaugh, Mike Nowlin and Alan Painter - are on the GOP primary ballot in that District 1 race. The winner will face Thomas McMahan, who is unopposed on the Democratic primary ballot, in the November general election.
District 2 is contested between Republicans incumbent State Rep. Jay Neal and challenger Steve Tarvin.
Rossville precinct loses, Chattanooga Valley gains
In addition to districts changing, two precinct boundaries have changed, Berry said.
Some voters in the northern part of Walker County will find that they have been shifted to the Chattanooga Valley Precinct where they formerly were registered in the Rossville Precinct.
Those affected are within the following geographic boundaries: starting at the intersection of state Highway 193 and Happy Valley Road, going east on Happy Valley and continuing to the intersection of Happy Valley Road and state Highway 2, then west on state Highway 2 back to state Highway 193, and then south on state Highway 193 back to the intersection of state Highway 193 and Happy Valley Road.
Berry said regardless of where they cast ballots, there will probably be a runoff election Aug. 21 in as many as four local elections. Due to the requirement that winners must gain at least 50 percent plus one more of votes cast, the races for the county offices of probate judge, sheriff and chief magistrate could require a runoff as could the legislative race for District 1.
Anyone with questions regarding the election is advised to call 706-638-4349 or visit the Board of Elections office in the County Courthouse between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.