Early Voting Underway

Voters can head to the polls for early voting in the Tennessee Primary and General Elections in local counties on August 7.

One of the biggest races is for the Hamilton County Sheriff. Jim Hammond, Greg Beck, Jim Winters, Tim Akins and write-in candidate Fred Fuson are all hoping to take over the post. Billy Long resigned in February after being charged with drug trafficking and more. Chief Deputy Allan Branum has been serving as interim sheriff until the election.

Several Hamilton County School Board seats are also up for grabs.

In District 2 Chip Baker is runing against Joe Dumas. In District 4, Greg Juster and Kenneth 'Super T' Simpson is challenging Debra Matthews. District 7 is being vacated by Joe Conner and Kevin Burke, Michael Dzik, and Linda Mosley are hoping to fill it.

Six candidates are running for the democratic nomination to face Sen. Lamar Alexander in fall.

Other state and federal representatives and congressman have challengers.

One of the more interesting races is the Fourth Fractional Township in Polk County. It is one of the few townships left in the country and the only one in Tennessee. Four people are vying to be on the three person Board of Commissers that meet once a month to decide on how to use royalties from copper ore.

Rhea County is also voting on a Half Cent Tax.

You can vote in early in Hamilton County in the following locations:

July 18th through August 2nd

Monday through Saturday

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Brainerd Recreation Center Northgate Mall (TJ Maxx Strip Center)

1010 North Moore Road Beside TJ Maxx

Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm:

Election Commission

700 River Terminal Road

Contact your local county election commission for details on where to vote.