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| Weakley County voters set early voting record |
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Weakley Countians followed the precedent set by early voters across the state and came out in record numbers during the early voting period for this year’s Presidential Preference Primary.
A grand total of 1,425 voters turned out in the county. That’s substantial compared to the 200 election year when only 630 people headed to the polls early and 816 people turned out early for the 2004 Democratic primary.
Faced with a variety of choices this year in the race to the nation’s capital, 20,531 registered voters across the county will have a chance to be heard Tuesday.
Record-breaking numbers were set by Tennesseans as well during the early voting period that ended last Thursday.
State Election Coordinator Brook Thompson reports that over 300,000 Tennesseans voted in the early voting period for the state’s presidential preference primary, a total that more than triples the early vote totals in the two previous presidential primaries. The total also shattered the all-time record of 110,000 set in 2000. As of Saturday, state officials had not determined the totals for the Democratic and Republican primaries.
This year’s political landscape has been charged with diversity as candidates race for the highest seat in the nation. From a right-wing conservative candidates who wants to debunk the payroll tax system to a decorated war hero, the Republican party race has proven no clear front-runner as of yet.
The Democratic Party is set to make history with the nomination of a first for the ticket, whether it comes in the form of the first female candidate or the first African-American candidate and national media outlets show Democrats “on the fence” when choosing between the two candidates.
Tennessee will join 22 states Tuesday as voters head to the polls for their primary elections and others caucus for their candidate in a record-setting year.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both senators, have an opportunity to change the political dynamic for the national Democratic Party. Clinton has campaigned on Universal Health Care while Obama has sparked a sea of supporters on the momentum of “change.” Democrats must choose between the two candidates if they want to follow party lines as Sen. John Edwards suspended his campaign last week. Tennessee-native and Republican Fred Thompson also exited the race last week. Both names will still be listed on the ballot during Super Tuesday.
The Repulican Party this year boasts four mainstream media candidates with the potential to elect a decorated war hero who has sought the post in the past in Sen. John McCain. Mike Huckabee, known as a born-again Christian, has drawn supporters of the faith while taking a stance against payroll taxes citing he would vow to eliminate those taxes in place of an across-the-board sales tax.
While the mainstream media seems to leave out Constitutionalist Ron Paul as a viable candidate for the Republican Party, he has garnered the attention of the digital world setting record-breaking numbers in funds raised from private citizens.
Republican front-runner and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has taken a stand against tax cuts proposed by McCain while posing another option for Republicans.
Some national media outlets have cited Super Tuesday may not be the deciding factor for either party gaining enough momentum putting a candidate on top.
Weakley County voters will once again see electronic voting machines as they head to the polls today. Technician Andy Mangum told Weakley County Election Commission members on Friday that after more than 40 hours of calibration and testing, all 40 of the voting machines are in functioning order and ready to be used today.
The polls opened at 9 a.m. Tuesday and are expected to close at 7 p.m.
The voting precincts are as follows:
• 1A — Palmersville Fire Station, 6303 Hwy. 89, Palmersville
• 1B — Latham Fire Station, 5379 Hwy 118, Latham
• 2 — Gleason Community Building, 506 North Cedar St., Gleason
• 3 — Greenfield Park Pavilion, 265 Atkins St., Greenfield
• 4 — Sharon Fire Station, 123 S. Hollis, Sharon
• 5 — Buster Williams Fire Station, 106 Neal St., Martin
• 6 — Trinity Presbyterian Church, 145 Hannings Ln., Martin
• 7 — Vincent Implements, 8258 Hwy. 45, Martin
• 8 — First United Methodist Church, 225 Main, Martin
• 9 — Dresden Senior Citizen Building, 589 Evergreen St., Dresden.
For more Weakley County election coverage including exit polls from several precincts and final results across the county, visit www.nwtntoday.com throughout Tuesday as voters decide during the Presidential Preference Primary.
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