Early voting begins Wednesday

Early voting for the May 5 primary election begins Wednesday in Warren County, giving voters more than two weeks to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

Voters can cast early ballots from April 15-30 at the Warren County Administrative Building, located at 201 Locust St. in McMinnville. Hours at that location will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

Additional early voting sites will open April 24 and run through April 30 at the Centertown Community Center, 92 Gilbert St., and the Morrison Ruritan Club, 121 W. Maple St. in Morrison. Both locations will follow the same daily schedule.

This year’s primary election will determine party nominees for a number of Warren County offices, but in some cases, races will effectively be decided during the primary.

That includes County Commission Districts 2 and 3, where all candidates are running as Republicans. With no Democratic or independent opposition filed in either district, the top two vote-getters in each race will secure the seats, making the May 5 primary the deciding election.

A sample ballot provided by the Warren County Election Commission shows separate ballots for Republican and Democratic primaries, each with its own list of candidates.

Tennessee does not require voters to register with a political party. Instead, voters choose which party’s primary they want to vote in when they arrive at the polls.

That means voters will not see every candidate on one ballot.

Instead, voters must tell poll workers which party’s primary they wish to participate in, and they will receive only that party’s ballot — not a combined list of all candidates.

“If you choose to vote in a primary you wouldn’t usually vote in, it’s up to you,” Warren County Administrator of Elections Susie Davenport said during Monday’s political forum. “But that is the equivalent of you saying you’re going to help that party choose its candidates.”

Voters may only choose one party’s ballot in a primary election.

The early voting period runs through April 30, with Election Day set for May 5. Early voting is open to any registered voter in Warren County, and officials encourage residents to take advantage of the extended schedule.

Voters are required to bring a valid photo ID, such as a Tennessee driver’s license or other state- or federally-issued identification. College IDs are not accepted.

More information, including sample ballots and additional election details, is available at GoVoteTN.gov or by contacting the Warren County Election Commission.