By Paul Leach
Correspondent
BENTON, Tenn. - Polk County election commissioners made final preparations this week for the Nov. 2 elections, including a decision to have four instead of three early voting days in Copperhill, Tenn.
The election commission agreed to add Oct. 27 as an early voting date at the Copper Basin Fire Hall, citing the need the give adequate public notice of the change. They already had designated Oct. 16, 20 and 23 for early voting.
Chairman Ronnie O'Neal and Commissioners Frank Payne and Bill Frady voted for the extra date while Secretary Freeman Curbow and Commissioner Mack York voted against it.
"We don't have too many [voters] at these small elections, and that's why I didn't think we particularly needed four days," York said.
Money saved on election-worker pay might be needed elsewhere before the fiscal year ends June 30, he added.
Frady suggested cutting out seminars for the election commissioners to save money. Deputy Registrar Melitte McCoy advised that, by law, the election administrator must attend.
York also recommending attending the election seminars.
"If you ever really want to know what your job is - what our job is - and learn a whole lot about the election process, it is very beneficial," he said.
Besides state and federal elections, the Nov. 2 ballot includes a local nonpartisan race to fill a vacancy in District 1 of the Polk County Board of Education. Candidates for the seat are Tracy L. Bishop and Charles Michael Woody.
The position has remained unfilled since July, when board member Tracy McAbee resigned from the board to take a full-time job as principal of Benton Elementary School.
Director of Schools James R. Jones urged the Polk County Commission to appoint an interim board member, but the commission decided in August to wait for the election.
Contact Paul Leach at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.
EARLY VOTING DATES & TIMES
Election Commission office, Benton
Oct. 13-28. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday
Copper Basin Fire Hall
Oct. 16, 20, 23 and 27. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Source: Polk County Election Commission