BY KRISTEN BUCKLES
STAFF WRITER
It's almost time for "see you at the polls."
The deadline to register to vote before the Nov. 6 federal, state and county election is Monday, Oct. 8.
Early voting will begin Wednesday, Oct. 17, and continue through Thursday, Nov. 1.
Included on the ballot will be:
* President and vice president of the United States;
* U.S. senator;
* U.S. representative;
* State representatives; and,
* Individual vacancies on the Greene County Commission, for Greene County Circuit Court Clerk, and on the Greene County School Board.
CANDIDATES
The following candidates are listed in the same order as found on the sample ballot.
Those running for U.S. President and vice-president include: Republican Mitt Romney, with Paul Ryan; Democrat President Barack Obama, with Vice-President Joe Biden; Constitutional Party candidate Virgil Goode, with Jim Clymer; Green Party candidate Jill Stein, with Cheri Honkala; Independent Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson, with Luis J. Rodriguez; Independent Gary Johnson, with James P. Gray; and Independent Merlin Miller, with Virginia D. Abernethy.
Candidates for U.S. Senate include: Republican Senator Bob Corker, Democrat Mark E. Clayton, Constitutional Party candidate Kermit Steck, Green Party candidate Martin Pleasant, Independent Shaun E. Crowell, Independent David Gatchell, Independent James Higdon, Independent Michel Joseph Long, and Independent Troy Stephen Scoggin.
For the U.S. House of Representatives' 1st Congressional District, candidates include: Republican U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, Democrat Alan Woodruff, Green Party candidate Robert N. Smith, Independent Karen Sherry Brackett, and Independent Michael D. Salyer.
Those running in the Tennessee House of Representatives' 5th Representative District, which represents most of Greene County, include Republican State Rep. David Hawk and Democrat former 11th District State Rep. Eddie Yokley.
Those running in the state's 11th Representative District, which represents only a few precincts in Greene County along the Cocke County line, include Republican State Rep. Jeremy Faison and Democrat Marjorie Ramsey.
Candidates to fill the unexpired 8th District County Commission seat vacated by the death of Brenda Grogan include: William "Bill" Dabbs, Phil Gentry, Andrew Hillyer, Russell Johnson, and Eddie H. O'Brien.
Candidates were only able to file as Independents due to the proximity of the election.
The sole qualifying candidate for the unexpired term for the Circuit Court Clerk following Gail Davis Jeffers' mid-term retirement is Republican Pam Morrell Venerable.
Candidates to fill the unexpired 6th District County Board of Education seat vacated by the death of Claude "Junior" Weems, Jr. include: Mark E. Douthat, Gary Gass, and Deborah Johnson.
Candidates were only able to file as Independents due to the proximity of the election.
ELECTION OFFICE
Anyone with questions about his or her ability to vote, the status of his/her voter registration, or early and absentee voting may contact the Greene County Election Office, at 218 N. Main St., by calling 798-1715.
"If the voters want to check on their status to make sure that everything is updated and that they are still in the files, call our office and we'd be glad to check on that," said Donna Burgner, Greene County administrator of elections.
"That way they will have time to come to register to vote, if needed."
Burgner also reminded voters to bring a government-issued photo ID for early voting or voting on Election Day.
Those who meet the requirements for absentee voting may submit a request to receive a ballot by mail through Oct. 30, she added.
"Again, contact our office," Burgner said. "We'll be glad to address their questions or concerns in regards to absentee voting."
(See this Saturday's edition of The Greeneville Sun for additional details on early and absentee voting, as well as for a sample ballot for the Nov. 6 election.)
The election office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Extended hours will be offered during early voting, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 20 and 27.
