Early voting locations
In Hamilton County, early voting begins Wednesday and runs through Nov. 3.The following is a list of early voting polling locations. A photo ID is required to vote.Brainerd Recreation Center 1010 North Moore Road Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Eastwood Baptist Church 4300 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.North River Civic Center 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102 Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Election Commission Office 700 River Terminal Road Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.For information, visit elect.hamiltontn.gov.
To get or give a ride
› All Hamilton County residents who need transportation to vote or those who want to drive can visit GoVoteCHA.org or call (423) 708-4490.› For transportation or to provide transportation through the NAACP and Chattanooga Civic Center at Mountainside for City Council Districts 5 ,7, 8, and 9, call (423) 803-9486› To provide transportation or sign up for transportation for Alton Park, Piney Woods and Emma Wheeler Homes, residents or volunteers may call Gil Schropshire at (423) 653-7004.
For the first time in more than a decade, Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church will help transport people to cast their votes in the upcoming election.
The church is one of several organizations with #GoVoteCHA committed to transporting Hamilton County residents to vote during early voting, which starts Wednesday and runs through Nov. 3, and on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Voters will cast ballots for a number of leaders, including those in the state Senate, the state and U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. president.
"This is about making people understand how one vote can make a difference," said Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church Pastor the Rev. Carlos Williams, who coordinated area churches in the transportation effort.
Williams said only a few votes can make a big difference. For instance, the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was one of the closest elections in history, with Bush winning by a certified count of only five electoral votes.
Hamilton County voters seeking transportation to the polls can sign up online at GoVoteCHA.org. The site also is taking the names of volunteers who can drive people.
"It's so important that our vote counts, not just because we're electing a president, but the U.S. Supreme Court justice will be selected by whoever the president is," said Vickie Mathis, voter site coordinator for Orchard Knob Baptist Church.
Olivet Baptist Church Pastor Kevin Adams said he's also lending his church vans to the effort.
"Voting is so important. Any way the church can encourage that, that's what we're called to do," Adams said.
Williams said he sees taking people to the voting polls as a way to connect with people in the community.
Local attorneys Wade Hinton and Chantelle Roberson started the initiative after seeing low voter turnout in recent elections. Roberson said she was moved after hearing people express their lack of hope for the future.
GoVoteCHA's first goal was to increase voter registration. Now the goal is to make sure people vote, Mathis said.
In a separate effort, the NAACP, Chattanooga Civic Center at Mountainside and the Alton Park Development Corporation also are joining forces to transport voters in City Council districts 5, 7, 8 and 9. Those areas traditionally have low voter turnout, said NAACP President Dr. Elenora Woods.
She's asking cab drivers to help drive people to the polls Oct. 31, on "Get Out And Vote Early Day."
NAACP Secretary Eric Atkins asked people to report to the NAACP any voter discrepancies such as finding their name has been purged or being challenged about voter identification.
The Alton Park/Piney Woods Neighborhood Association is transporting seniors age 62 and older in Alton Park, Piney Woods and Emma Wheeler Homes to the polls.
The goal is to make sure people have no obstacles to voting and that they vote, Woods said.
"Poor or rich, it doesn't matter," Woods said. "You are equal when you cast that vote."
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6431.
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Here's a sample of what the ballot will look like in Hamilton County for the Nov. 8 general election and a list of where you can vote. For a list of early voting locations click here. For more voting information click here.