Large turnout expected as early voting begins
A year of choices will begin today as early voting in both the party primaries and the county local sales tax option referendum gets under way.
“I think the combination of the primaries and the local option sales tax vote for county voters will give us a pretty good turnout,” said Election Administrator Donna Yates. “We want to be busy because there’s nothing worse than sitting down here with nothing to do. We want people to get out and vote.”
Early voting will be held from Jan. 21 through Feb. 5. Early voting will be held in the normal area in the rear of the administrative offices on Locust Street. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday. Those who do not vote early will have one more chance on election day when polls open across the county Feb. 10.
Included in the balloting will be a measure which would raise the local option sales tax collection in the county from 2.0 to 2.75 percent. The city passed a similar measure last year and has since raised its sales tax collection while lowering property taxes. Only voters outside the city of McMinnville will be allowed to vote in the referendum.
However, all registered voters, city and county, will be allowed to vote in the presidential and local party primaries. Both Republicans and Democrats will have local and presidential primaries, marking the first time the Republican Party in Warren County will be included a local primary.
The Republican candidates for property assessor and 5th District County Commissioner are running unopposed. However, the Democratic race for property assessor will have competition as incumbent Carolyn Miller faces Democratic opposition from Emily A. Panter and Thomas S. Winfree.
While recently departing the presidential race, the names of both Dick Gephardt and Carol Mosley Braun, remain on the local Democratic ballot.
Yates said voters may choose to vote in either primary and the referendum or to simply vote only in the referendum.