October 19, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
In just four days, the early voting turnout in DeKalb County for the November 5th election has already eclipsed the entire number of votes cast in the August 1st elections.
From Wednesday through Saturday, October 16-19 the election commission reports that a total of 1,961 people has voted early. The turnout on Saturday was 323 including 314 in person and 9 by absentee. On Friday 530 voted including 521 in person and 9 by absentee. On Thursday, 465 cast ballots including 452 in person and 13 by absentee. And on Wednesday, 643 voted including 492 in person, 100 by absentee, and 51 at the nursing home/Webb House.
In the August 1 election, a total of 1,404 voted in DeKalb County including 700 on election day, 100 paper absentees, and 604 walk-in early voting. DeKalb County had 13,607 registered voters in August.
Early Voting continues through October 31.
In the Presidential election in 2020 a record number of voters turned out locally totaling 8,542 including 4,606 early voters, 511 absentees and 3,425 on election day. DeKalb County had 12,509 registered voters at that time.
On the ballot this year is the Presidential election as well as races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (District 6), Tennessee Senate (District 16), and Tennessee House of Representatives (District 40).
In DeKalb County, two referendums are on the ballot regarding a $50 wheel tax and the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $65 million for a judicial center and jail.
In Smithville at the courthouse, early voting times will be as follows:
Mondays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tuesdays: 12 noon until 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Thursdays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. until 12 noon
In Alexandria at the Sandlin Building on the Fairgrounds, early voting times will be as follows:
Tuesday, October 22: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tuesday, October 29: 12 noon until 6 p.m.