Early voting starts today; higher voter turnout expected this year

New poll in Hixson area among four open sites in Hamilton County

Privacy booths await early voters at the North River Civic Center in Hixson. Late Tuesday afternoon, Elections Programer Nathan Foster makes sure computers and network are set up and ready for today. "North River is a new location," Foster said. "Previously, it had been somewhere inside Northgate Mall. Now we have a stable location at the center. We're working with the city of Chattanooga to use this facility for as far as we can see," he said.
There are four Hamilton County early voting locations: Eastwood Church in Collegedale, Brainerd Recreation Complex, North River Civic Center and the Hamilton County Election Commission office at Amnicola Highway, according to Foster.
Privacy booths await early voters at the North River Civic Center in Hixson. Late Tuesday afternoon, Elections Programer Nathan Foster makes sure computers and network are set up and ready for today. "North River is a new location," Foster said. "Previously, it had been somewhere inside Northgate Mall. Now we have a stable location at the center. We're working with the city of Chattanooga to use this facility for as far as we can see," he said. There are four Hamilton County early voting locations: Eastwood Church in Collegedale, Brainerd Recreation Complex, North River Civic Center and the Hamilton County Election Commission office at Amnicola Highway, according to Foster.

Locations

Hamilton County early voting locations:• Brainerd Rec Center, 1010 N. Moore Road. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.• Eastwood Church, 4300 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.• Election Commission Office, 700 River Terminal Road. Hours 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday• (New Hixson location) North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Source: Hamilton County Election Commission

Key dates

March 1: Presidential Preference Primary ElectionTENNESSEEFeb. 10: Early voting beginsFeb. 23: Early voting endsGEORGIAFeb. 8: Early voting began (includes Saturday, Feb. 20)Feb. 26: Early voting endsALABAMAAlabama is among 13 states in the U.S. where residents don’t vote early.

More info online

Tennessee: sos.tn.gov/electionsGeorgia: sos.ga.govAlabama: alabamavotes.govSource: Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia secretaries of state and local officials

Presidential preference primaries over the years have seen low voter turnout, but an open Hamilton County Assessor of Property seat and a 10 percent increase in registered voters could boost numbers this time as Tennessee voters start casting their first ballots.

Early voting starts today in Tennessee; in Georgia, it started Monday. Alabama doesn't have early voting.

On Tuesday, Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Kerry Steelman said technicians were working out some last-minute computer issues to make sure early voting sites are ready for voters today.

"Turnout is historically low for the presidential preference primary, which typically includes the assessor of property as the lone county office on the ballot," Steelman said.

"This is, however, the first time since 1994 that [longtime assessor] Bill Bennett will not appear on the ballot," Steelman added. "As such, I anticipate more voter interest in this primary, especially with three candidates on the Republican ballot."

The open property assessor seat drew three contenders - Randy Johnston, Marty Haynes and Sterling Jetton - to the Republican primary ballot. Candidate Mark Siedlecki is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Also on the Hamilton County Republican primary ballot is a three-way showdown for 11th Judicial District Criminal Court seat between incumbent Tom Greenholtz and challengers Mike Little and Boyd Patterson. There is no Democrat on the primary ballot so that seat will be decided March 1.

The 236,220 Hamilton County residents who registered to vote in the upcoming primary represent an increase of more than 21,500 over the 214,691 people who registered in 2012, Steelman said.

Steelman said that besides population growth, he couldn't point to a source of the increase.

During the early voting period in Hamilton County, a new polling location will be open at the North River Civic Center on Executive Drive off Northpoint Boulevard in Hixson, Steelman said.

Those who haven't voted early in the past should think about casting an early ballot in case of bad weather, he said.

"We are having an election in March, and that's kind of unusual," he said. "In February and March, in this area, is a time when we've been surprised by weather."

A sudden snow or ice event could cause traffic problems on Election Day, so a preemptive early vote makes sure ballots are cast, he said.

"You can go to any one of the four early voting locations - and it doesn't have to be in your precinct; you can go to any one of them - and you can vote any time you want to [during hours of operation]," he said.

Election Day polling locations and hours will be announced nearer the end of the early voting period to avoid confusion, he said.

In Georgia, residents began casting their votes Tuesday and the process has been running smoothly, according to an election official in Catoosa County.

Howard Long, who has served on the county's election board for four years, most recently as the chairman last year, said 25 people in Ringgold had cast their votes just three hours after the polls opened Tuesday.

When asked if he expects more or less people to vote in Catoosa County this year, he said he fully expects a larger turnout.

"From what I see on TV and read in the papers, there's a lot of activity," he said.

Early voting ends Feb. 23 in Tennessee and Feb. 26 in Georgia.

Staff writer Emmett Gienapp contributed to this story.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.

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