Voters trickled into polling places in East Ridge and Ooltewah throughout the morning. Many people came to vote more on the principle that they should always vote than because they wanted to vote for a particular candidate.
"I could have flipped a coin," said Jack Godwin, who voted at the American Legion in precinct 2 in East Ridge. "But if we don't use [our right to vote] we lose it."
Steve Knickerbocker also came to the polls because he thought it was his duty as a citizen. He said he is "normally Republican," and he voted in the Republican primary today at Eastwood Church, the polling place for Ooltewah precincts 1 and 2. He said that he thought it was time for a new sheriff, so he voted for Chris Harvey instead of incumbent Jim Hammond.
Sixty people had cast ballots by noon in East Ridge, precinct 2. There had been 50 voters by 11:25 a.m. in precincts 1 and 2 in Ooltewah.