Early voting for the 2012 general election begins today, and registered voters are encouraged to exercise that right as soon as possible lest they forget, or business, family or personal matters spring up and draw attention away from the task at hand.
Polls are open at three Washington County locations: Washington County Courthouse, Main Street, Jonesborough; Washington County Health Department Princeton Road, Johnson City; and the Fire Station Building, 106 Commons Circle, off of Suncrest Drive, Gray.
The Election Commission has extended the time polls will be open by one hour each day, including Election Day, clearing the way for what is expected to be a hearty voter turnout.
Early voting begins today and runs through Nov. 1. The county’s three early voting locations will be open on weekdays from 9.a.m. to 6 p.m., pushing back the traditional 5 p.m. closing time and giving voters an extra hour at the end of the day. These locations also will be open on two Saturdays -- Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 -- from 9 a.m. to noon. Polls are closed on Sundays.
On election day, Nov. 6, the county’s 40 precincts will open at 7 a.m. – one hour earlier than the normal 8 a.m. Polls will close at 8 p.m.
Washington County Administrator of Elections Maybell Stewart said Tuesday there have been no changes in locations, dates or time. She also said the county’s 40 precinct locations have not changed..
“Voter registration is over, except for those voting absentee,” she said. “Applications for an absentee ballots will be accepted through Oct. 30.”
Stewart said from Jan. 1 through Oct. 8, the Election Commission registered 6,092 new voters.
“That’s a little more than we had in 2008, which also was a presidential election year,” she said. “The total number of active voters is 68,330. Including inactive voters, the total is 76,446. The last number represents the total number of people eligible to vote.”
The total number of active and inactive voters in Washington County was 70,005 in the 2008 presidential election.
Inactive voters remain on the rolls until they have not voted in two consecutive November presidential elections or it cannot be determined whether they are at the same address, as well as other factors. But until that time, these people are included in the total number of voters -- the total pool of possible voters, according to Stewart.
Early voting dates/times/locations
Washington County
* Today - Nov. 1 (statewide)
* M-F: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays (20th, 27th): 9 a.m. - noon.
* Washington County Courthouse, Main Street, Jonesborough; Washington County Health Department Princeton Road, Johnson City; Fire Station Building, 106 Commons Circle, off of Suncrest Drive, Gray.
Sullivan County
* M-F: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
* Sullivan County Election Commission Office, 3258 Hwy. 126 Blountville; Civic Auditorium, 1550 Fort Henry Dr. Kingsport; National Guard Armory, Bristol, 611 Bluff City Hwy.
Carter County
* M-F: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturdays: 9 a.m. - noon.
* County courthouse, 801 E. Elk Ave., Room 205
Unicoi County
* M-F: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturdays: 9 a.m. - noon.
* Election Commission Office, 106 Nolichucky Ave.
Johnson County
* M: 8 a.m.- 7 p.m., T-F: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturdays: 9 a.m. - noon.
* Johnson County Election Commission Office, 158 Election Ave. Mountain City (behind rescue squad building).
Absentee ballot request
* The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Absentee ballots must be received by Election Day. Registered voters who are at least 60 years of age may request an absentee ballot because of their age (this was lowered from 65).
* A photo ID is now required to vote. Acceptable IDs include any issued by the state or federal government, with the exception of college IDs. Expired photo IDs are allowed with the exception for those voting for the first time after registering by mail.
* If you have registered but have not received your voter card or need more information about your voting status, contact the Washington County Election Commission Office, Washington County Courthouse, Main Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659, (423) 753-1688, or visit “Voter Lookup” at www.tn.gov/sos/election/voterlookup.