Early voting off to slow start

Bedford County Director of Elections Summer Leverette said early voting for the Aug. 7 elections has been "very slow" since beginning on Friday.

Only 103 early votes had been received as of midday Tuesday, and that includes absentee ballots sent in by mail, said Leverette.

November elections usually draw a relatively high percentage of registered voters. In 2004, 71 percent of all local voters participated. In 2000, it was 65 percent, in 1996, 64 percent and in 1992, 74 percent.

Early voting continues until Aug. 2 at the election office in the basement of the county courthouse. Hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, Aug. 21 at noon is the deadline for local candidates to qualify for the November general elections. Shelbyville, Wartrace and Normandy will have town elections, and the vacancy created by the death this week of Third District County Commission member Roger Brothers will be filled. In addition, an Eighth District Road Board seat for which no candidates qualified for the August election will appear again on the November ballot.

CANDIDATES

Here are the candidates for the Aug. 7 primary and general elections, with (I) indicating an incumbent:

PARTY PRIMARIES

STATE SENATE, 16th District

Democratic Primary

Dee Butler

Jean Ann Rogers

Republican Primary

Jim Tracy (I)

STATE HOUSE, 62nd District

Democratic Primary

Curt Cobb (I)

Republican Primary

Barbara Blanton

Christopher Brown

Frederick "Danny" Lowe

GENERAL ELECTION

ASSESSOR OF PROPERTY

Ronda Clanton (I), Democratic nominee

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT

Stanley Smotherman (I), Democratic nominee

SCHOOL BOARD

District 1

Dixie Parker (I)

Robert Allison

District 5

Barry Cooper (I)

District 6

Mary Jo Johnson (I)

District 8

Leonard Singleton (I)

District 9

Glen Forsee (I)

ROAD BOARD

District 1

Albert Crosslin (I)

District 2

Wayne Carter (I)

District 3

Harold Ralston (I)

District 4

Robert McAnally (I)

District 5

Frank Bobo (I)

District 6

James O'Dell (I)

District 7

No ballot candidates; Mark Lamb has filed the proper paperwork to receive write-in votes.

District 8

No candidates; the vacancy will appear again on the November ballot.

District 9

Jesse Powell Jr.

BELL BUCKLE ALDERMEN

Robert Frank Reagor (I)

Annie Rooney