MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Sunday, October 12, 2008 7:53 am


As the candidates run for the finish line with the November general election only three weeks way, early voting starting Wednesday.

And with more than 145,000 Rutherford countians registered to vote, casting an early ballot may prevent endless waits at the polls Nov. 4.

Early voting starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday at six locations across Rutherford County with four sites in Murfreesboro.

The SportsCom, the Election Commission Annex on Vine Street, the Agricultural Center in Old Fort Park, Tennessee Rehabilitation Center in Smyrna and the La Vergne Civic Auditorium are all early voting sites again.

These locations will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday until Thursday, Oct. 30.

The Rutherford County Election Commission office on the Square will also be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday during early voting with extended hours in the last days of early voting.

Not only will voters go to the polls to cast ballots for the next president, they will also vote for the next state senator and representative. And in the cases of Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville voters will decide who will guide their respective cities in the coming years.

Voters in the 48th House of Representatives District will decide whether Republican Joe Carr or Democrat Tim Tipps will represent the district in the seat John Hood held for six terms.

The 34th House District will decide between incumbent Republican Rep. Donna Rowland and challenger Democrat Dr. Rishi Saxena.

Voters in the 49th House District will cast ballots for Republican Rick Womick or the Democratic incumbent Rep. Kent Coleman.

For the State Senate, voters in the 16th District will decide between Democratic nominee Jean Ann Rogers or incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Tracy.

Eagleville will also vote for the next member of the State House of Representatives from 62nd District. Incumbent Rep. Curt Cobb will take on Republican nominee Barbara Blanton.

Rep. Bart Gordon is running for his 13th term as the representative from the 6th Congressional District against independent candidate Chris Baker.

Voters will also choose between incumbent Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Democratic candidate Robert “Bob” Tuke and a host of independent candidates.