Hargett dismisses Trump's election fraud claims as early voting begins in Tennessee

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/18/16. Kerry Steelman, Hamilton County Administrator of Elections, speaks about preparations the Election Commission made in preparation for an expected large early voter turnout. Steelman said they doubled the number of voting booths with 47 slots now available, set up two more stations for election personnel to help citizens register, and installed a curtain to give voters privacy from those standing in line. Early voting is available at the Hamilton County Election Commission, the Brainerd Recreation Center, the North River Civic Center near Northgate Mall and Eastwood Baptist Church in Collegedale.

Voters in Tennessee can go to the polls today, as early voting opens in selected polling places in counties across the state.

While in the past, absentee voting required voters to give a reason as to why they would not be able to vote on the normal election day, early voting has no such requirements.

Kerry Steelman, Hamilton County administrator of elections, said the commission has nearly doubled the number of voting booths, with 47 slots available in anticipation of a large turnout.

Only a handful of polling places will be open for early voting in each county across the state, however. In Hamilton County, for example, there are four places to vote:

* Brainerd Recreation Center on North Moore Road

* Eastwood Baptist Church on Ooltewah-Ringgold Road in Collegedale

* North River Civic Center on Executive Drive near Northgate Mall

* Election Commission Office on River Terminal Road

Polls in Hamilton County will be open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, except for the Election Commission Office, which will be open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

Early voting runs through Nov. 3. A photo ID is required to vote.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said Monday he is not worried about possible election fraud. GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is expected to carry Tennessee easily, has said on several occasions he believes the election is "rigged" against his candidacy.

"I keep hearing about this rigged election," Hargett told reporters in a news conference this week. "[But] nobody is calling our office and saying, 'Oh gosh, you've got to stop this,' or 'We're concerned about this.'"

Hargett, a Republican, said he has not received any information from anyone alleging fraud. He noted that neither the state nor county voting systems are online, making them difficult for hackers to attack. Anyone suspecting voting fraud should contact his office toll free at 877-850-4959, Hargett said.

Tennessee voters can visit tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup to confirm they are registered and locate their polling place.

Tennessee students are also getting into the early voting act, although most of them are not old enough to vote legally. Some 500 schools across the state are allowing students to participate in a mock election, with results to be announced Nov. 2. Some 241,000 students are eligible to participate, as well as enter an essay contest about voting.

"Our response has been overwhelming. Educators from all across the state are excited about this program and I know students are eager to participate," Hargett said. "Our hope is their interest in voting continues as they become young adults."

Georgia voters have already been voting since Monday. Secretary of State Brian Kemp said in a press release Tuesday that 85,228 votes had been cast in person, and another 61,283 mail-in absentee votes had been received. Another 106,481 absentee ballots had been requested but not yet mailed in, he said.

Georgia voters can go to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do to find out if they are registered to vote, view a sample ballot, and locate their polling place for Nov. 8, as well as the early voting poll locations. Under Georgia law, early voting will also be available on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Kemp said anyone who suspects voting irregularities can contact his office by calling 877-725-9797.

Alabama does not allow any early voting, and everyone requesting absentee ballots must prove they will be out of the county on Election Day, are disabled, or working a shift that corresponds with voting hours.

Contact staff writer Steve Johnson at 423-757-6673, sjohnson@timesfreepress.com, on Twitter@stevejohnsonTFP, and on Facebook.

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.