Polls slow during early voting in 62nd district primary on The Murfreesboro Post

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Polls slow during early voting in 62nd district primary

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Monday, August 24, 2009 1:42 pm

Polls were slow all around during early voting in the primary election to fill the House of Representatives 62nd district seat, vacated by Rep. Curt Cobb (D-Shelbyville).

Of the 2,414 voters registered in the district in Rutherford County only 21 cast ballots early, Elections Administrator Hooper Penuel said.

“It was pretty slow here, but I understand that Bedford and Lincoln had a much better turnout,” he said.

But it wasn’t much better.

Bedford County, which has around 23,000 registered voters, only saw 891 vote early. The 62nd district includes all of Bedford County.

“We usually have more than half vote,” Bedford County Elections Administrator Summer Leverette said, adding she doesn’t expect the October general election to be very busy either.

Lincoln County was in the same boat with only 559 votes cast from 11,464 in the district.

Even though early voting was slow, Penuel hopes to see a better turn out Thursday for the primary.

“We hope voters will exercise their voting privilege,” Penuel said. “Democracy can be strong only if voters participate in the voting process regardless of the number of names on the ballots.”

The primary election will be Thursday, Aug. 27 in the following Rutherford County precincts: Blackman United Methodist Church, Eagleville Community Center and Rockvale Community Center.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and voters should bring a form of signature ID (driver’s license, voter registration card, etc.).

The general election will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13.

On the Democratic ticket, Ty Cobb II is the only candidate. On the Republican side, Joseph C. Byrd, Pat Marsh, Bobby Scott and Casey Walters are running.

Cobb resigned his post in the legislature, which he has held since 2002, to serve as Bedford County’s new clerk and master.

For more information about the primary election or voting in general, call the Rutherford County Election Commission at 898-7743 during normal office hours.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under Curt Cobb, Elections, Hooper Penuel, State

Member Opinions:

By: ItsGood on 8/24/09
"Of the 2,414 voters registered in the district in Rutherford County only 21 cast ballots early, Elections Administrator Hooper Penuel said."

It simply appears folks in Rutherford County are not voters, they simply do not care, they enjoy complaining but not voting.