Voting

Posted Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at 2:03 PM

I went to the Shelbyville courthouse yesterday in an attempt to register to vote. My husband came with me because he knew where to go in the courthouse and I wasn't sure. On our way in, we saw a group of people assembled on the steps of the opposite side from where we were. He was convinced there was some sort of rally going on. A rally for what?* He never really explained that part to me.

Anyway, we made our way to the basement, where you would register to vote. Long story, short, I was told I could not register to vote because they do not register anyone within a month before primary elections. I did not know that. So, I guess what I'm saying is that if you're not registered to vote, then you should do what I will be doing after the primaries - register, it's part of your civic duty.

In keeping with the voting theme of this post, did you see that Hillary and McCain won? I was kind of surprised that Hillary won. McCain winning doesn't surprise me as much as I know a lot of people like him a lot. Personally, I don't have a favorite candidate yet, so I'm really excited to see what happens in the next primaries.

*Oh, and we found out about the group of people in front of the courthouse - they were smoking! Ha ha ha...

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We actually did run a couple of front page stories recently -- I had one last month, and Brian had one Sunday -- that mentioned that Monday was the deadline. Sometimes we miss those deadlines, but we did point this one out.

Where did you see the smokers? The only place on the grounds they're supposed to be smoking is on the west side (facing Regions Bank and the Gunter Building) on the little concrete pad that was poured last summer for that purpose.

-- Posted by Jicarney on Wed, Jan 9, 2008, at 2:17 PM

Ah, yes....the cancer section. :p

-- Posted by LauraSFT on Wed, Jan 9, 2008, at 2:24 PM

I had heard that the deadline for registering was on the 7th, but of course, I got my days mixed up. I also thought that I could register but just not vote in the primaries - but, as I learned, that was not the case.

I want to say that the smokers were facing the Regions Bank. They were on the same side where if you looked across the street you'd see the tattoo parlor. I don't know which street that is off hand as I haven't learned all the street names yet.

-- Posted by cfrich on Wed, Jan 9, 2008, at 2:34 PM

I am not trying to start an agruement here but since when did Tennessee Smoking Ban restrict anyone from smoking in an Public outside area? Not that it matters to me one way or the other I am just curious.

-- Posted by Dianatn on Wed, Jan 9, 2008, at 6:46 PM

It doesn't prohibit them from smoking outside in public, just within so many feet of certain "state" buildings...

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 12:02 AM

You're exactly right Darrick, but I wonder how many people actually abide by it at State buildings? I work at MTSU and although some of the employees in my building smoke outside, they are right on the loading dock or outside the doors.....not the distance they are supposed to be.

-- Posted by k_collins39 on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 8:51 AM

k_collins39,

The difference is that you have court officials and law enforcement officers going and coming at the courthouse.

I don't know what the fine is for that offense, but it's easy money for them at the courthouse if someone decides to test it.

-- Posted by HorseGentler on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 9:54 AM

There is no distance requirement mandated by the Non Smokers Protection Act. Employers, however, may set guidelines. Smoke should not be able to infiltrate the building when the door is opened.

http://health.state.tn.us/smokefreetenne......

-- Posted by Dianatn on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 11:07 AM

Dianatn, I didn't post about seeing the smokers to start an arguement, I posted because I thought it was funny that my husband didn't think it was smokers but instead thought it was some sort of rally or protest.

-- Posted by cfrich on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 11:13 AM

Cfrich, no worries...I saw the point your husband was making, and I laughed as well. Your point didn't come across argumentative either. Please don't stop the humor because of a few who only want to argue.

-- Posted by dooshie69 on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 11:53 AM

I thought for a second I was the only one who found it funny...I guess for my husband, the idea of a bunch of people rallying about something was much easier to guess at than figuring out that they were all smokers (like the smoke cloud didn't tip him off?).

-- Posted by cfrich on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 12:19 PM

Ok, so onto voting...

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 6:53 PM

Chantal Rich

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