Voters urged to study proposed amendments as election nears

With early voting beginning Wednesday, Warren County Administrator of Elections Susie Davenport has a simple request for voters: Take time to read the three proposed constitutional amendments before heading to the polls.

Davenport addressed Monday night's political forum in McMinnville, providing information about early voting, absentee ballots and changes to Election Day polling locations. But she placed particular emphasis on the amendments appearing on Tennessee ballots in the Nov. 3 general election.

“One thing I ask everyone to please pay attention to are the three constitutional amendments,” Davenport said. “They're long; they're wordy. Please read them ahead of time.”

Davenport encouraged voters to visit GoVoteTN.gov to review the amendments before arriving at their polling locations, rather than trying to understand the lengthy proposals while standing at a voting machine.

She explained that voting yes supports changing the Tennessee Constitution as proposed, while voting no supports leaving the existing constitutional language unchanged.

Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 14, and continues through Thursday, Oct. 29.

Davenport said early voting hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Additional early voting locations at the Morrison Ruritan and Centertown CIC will open Friday, Oct. 23, and remain available through the end of early voting. The same hours will apply at those locations.

Voters planning to cast absentee ballots face an Oct. 24 deadline to request a ballot. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Election Commission by the close of business on Election Day.

Davenport encouraged voters mailing absentee ballots locally to take them directly to a postal clerk rather than placing them in an outdoor collection box, expressing concern about potential delivery delays.

She also reminded voters of a polling location change involving the former Three Star Mall voting site, which has moved across the road to the old Health Department building.

Warren County's Election Day polling locations will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Davenport also expressed confidence in Tennessee's election procedures, saying the state has been recognized nationally for election integrity.

“For five years in a row Tennessee has been named No. 1 in the United States for election integrity,” Davenport said. “We're very proud of that, and we are going to try very hard to keep it that way."