Its election day. Polls at 17 locations in Dickson County opened at 7 am and will remain open until everyone in line at 7 pm has voted. Approximately 30,000 Dickson County residents are currently registered to vote with just over 5,300 casting ballots during the early voting period. Voters going to the polls today have the choice of voting in the Democratic or Republican primaries and the county general election, or can skip the primaries and vote only in the county races. Charlotte voters also have a municipal election for mayor and six town council members. Primary races include governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives 5th District, Tennessee Senate 25th District, Tennessee House of Representatives 69th and 78th districts and state executive committeeman and committeewoman for the 25th District for both parties. On the county general ballot are contested races for county mayor, sheriff, road superintendent, general sessions judge, juvenile/probate judge, circuit court clerk and register of deeds, along with uncontested races for trustee, general sessions court clerk and county clerk. In district races, eight of 12 county commission seats feature contested races with 11 incumbents seeking re-election. Only the 4th District race is for an open seat following the March death of Commissioner J.B. Smith. There is only one contested race for six seats on the Dickson County Road Commission while two seats feature only write-in candidates. Only one of three Dickson County School Board seats on the ballot features a contested race as all three incumbents are seeking re-election. There are two special elections to fill constable vacancies, with one of those featuring only write-in candidates. In the races for eight-year terms in the five-county 23rd Judicial District, Ray Crouch is unopposed in the race for district attorney; Public Defender Jake Lockert of Cheatham County is challenged by Kelly Jackson Smith of Dickson and Scott Saul of Cheatham County; and two of three Circuit Court Judge races are uncontested. In municipal elections, Dickson Municipal Court Judge Reese Holley in unopposed in seeking a second eight-year term; Leonard G. Belmares II and Peggy R. Smith are competing for judge of White Bluff Municipal Court; and Charlotte Mayor Bill Davis is challenged by former council members Sherry Kilgore and Willie Speight, while eight people seek the six seats on the Charlotte Town Council, including all six incumbents. The ballot also features 23 retention votes on three Tennessee Supreme Court justices and judges of the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Because of the extensive ballot, state election officials have said it is taking voters longer in the booths, which could cause lines and delays at polling places today. Dickson County Administrator of Elections Linda Medley reminds voters to make sure they have a valid photo ID when going to the polls, to study the sample ballot carefully before entering the voting machine and to make sure they have voted in all the races they want to before hitting the button to cast their ballot. Any voter who believes he or she has not gotten to see a complete ballot or has been given the wrong ballot should contact a poll worker before casting their ballot. Voter precinct locations are listed on the voter registration card or voters can call the Dickson County Election Office at (615) 789-6021. WDKN and The One FM will have live election night returns from Main Street starting at the close of voting at 7 pm.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:28:15 +0000