November 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The largest single day turnout for early voting in DeKalb County turned out to be the last day!
The DeKalb County Election Commission reports that 280 people cast ballots on Thursday, November 3 for next Tuesday’s state and federal general elections. That’s 275 in person and five by absentee.
For the 14 day early voting period, October 19 through November 3 a total of 2,134 people voted. While that is a good turnout, it is down a bit from the early voting total for the August DeKalb County General Election at 2,357.
The early voting breakdown by precinct is as follows:
Alexandria: 147
Temperance Hall: 96
Liberty: 136
Snow Hill: 124
Smithville Church of God: 381
Rock Castle: 12
Courthouse: 417
Johnson Chapel: 110
County Complex 254
Keltonburg: 125
Blue Springs: 88
Church of Christ Annex: 244
Total: 2,134
The early voting numbers are also down in DeKalb County from the November elections of 2020 and 2018 but there are reasons for that.
In November 2020, a total of 4,606 voted early in DeKalb County but that was a Presidential Election which always creates a greater turnout. Four years ago, in November, a total of 3,135 cast ballots early in DeKalb County but there were more contested races on the ballot that year including a U.S. Senate and State Senate Race along with the Governor, Congressman, and two State House of Representative elections.
Next Tuesday, November 8, voters will be making their selections for Governor, Congressman and State Representative and voters in the 4th district only will have a candidate for Constable to fill an unexpired term. In addition, voters will be making their choices on four constitutional amendments. Polls at all 12 precincts in DeKalb County will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE election return coverage after the polls close at 7 p.m.
Candidates for Governor are: Republican incumbent Bill Lee, Democratic nominee Jason Brantley Martin and Independents Constance M. Every, John Gentry, Basil Marceaux, Charles Van Morgan, Alfred O’Neil, Deborah Rouse, Michael E. Scantland and Rick Tyler.
Candidates for U.S House of Representatives District 6 are Republican incumbent John Rose and Democratic challenger Randal Cooper.
Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives District 40 are Republican Michael Hale and Democrat Tom Cook, both from DeKalb County.
The lone candidate for Constable in the 4th District is Republican Lane Ball.