Election Commission to certify voting results from Aug. 4
Published 9:42 am Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Members of the Carter County Election Commission will meet on Monday to certify results from the recent election.
The Election Commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Monday at the Election Commission Office, located at 116 Holston Ave.
Following each election, members of the Election Commission must meet to certify the results, Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris said. Once certified, the results become official and are forwarded to the Tennessee Election Commission.
Typically during the certification meeting members of the Election Commission are made aware of any complaints made by voters or residents regarding the election or any voter issues, however, Harris said her office has received no complaints about the August 4 election.
As the Election Commission wraps up the results from the August election, work is already beginning to prepare for the Nov. 8 election.
“They will be locking the ballot boxes for the November election,” Harris said of the Election Commission members. The locked ballot boxes are used to securely hold any absentee ballots received until they are tallied on election day.
August 10 marked the first day voters could request absentee ballots, Harris said, adding she has already received several requests.
Absentee ballots are available to voters age 60 and older, students who attend school out of town, persons with disabilities, caregivers for an elderly or disabled person, and those who will be traveling or working out of town at the time of the election, Harris said, adding voters requesting an absentee ballot must also meet another requirement.
“As long as they have voted in person once before or registered in person they can qualify,” she said.
Voters who wish to receive an absentee ballot can pick up the request form in person at the Election Commission office or request one be mailed to them.
“The request form can be picked up and returned in person, but the ballot itself has to go through the mail,” Harris said.
The last day to request an absentee ballot for the November election is Nov. 1, Harris said, adding the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 11.
The November ballot will include races for the Tennessee Legislature, the U.S. Congress and the President of the United States. Several local races will appear on the ballot, including three seats on the Elizabethton City Council, three seats on the Elizabethton Board of Education, the Elizabethton City Judgeship, and three seats on the Watauga City Commission.
For more information on voter registration or upcoming elections, contact the Carter County Election Commission at 423-542-1822 or in person at their office, located at 116 S. Holston Ave.