KNOXVILLE, Tenn — In a little more than a month, East Tennesseans will be able to start voting in one of the year's major elections -- the big "Super Tuesday" ballot that will feature the presidential primary and the primary for many county offices.
As far as Knox County elections administrator Chris Davis is concerned, the sooner you cast that ballot the better.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in primary elections, most people vote on Election Day and in the general election, more people cast their ballots early.
Now is also an excellent time to do your homework to figure out who you want to vote for. If you're going to vote in the Republican primary, you have a lot of names to sort through.
Incumbent Joe Biden will be on the March 5 ballot for Democrats. And Republican voters will see eight names, including former President Donald Trump, on their presidential primary ballot.
"A lot of people are going to wait and see if someone drops out after Iowa (Jan. 15) or South Carolina (Feb. 24) or New Hampshire (Jan. 23). I just highly encourage you to vote early if you know who you want," said administrator Chris Davis.
Early voting in Tennessee starts Feb. 14 and will continue through Feb. 27. Super Tuesday itself is March 5.
The county general election is in August. The presidential election, along with the general election for state and congressional offices, will be in November.
Super Tuesday will likely attract as many voters as the November presidential election itself, Davis thinks.
Knox County has about 298,000 registered voters. By the time voting commences on March 5, Davis anticipates the county will surpass 300,000 registered voters.
For planning purposes, he's getting ready for as many as 150,000 total votes to be cast in Knox County. More likely, he said, is a turnout of perhaps 80,000 to 100,000 by the time March 5 is over. That number could even go up to 120,000, he said.
Many people will actually vote on March 5 instead of early, he said. Davis, however, is hoping for strong early voting.
"We'll be planning for an extremely busy Election Day," he said.
That could make the day more of a hassle if the weather is bad and if long lines form at some precincts that aren't able to shelter all those standing in line, Davis said.
Republican voters can expect a ballot much longer than that for Democratic voters because so many people will be on as party delegates. The list should feature at least 90 names, Davis said, and people will be able to pick up to 14.
The ballot for Republican voters potentially will take two sheets of paper, front and back. Hargett said the number of Republican presidential candidates and delegates on the ballot will make it large, statewide.
"It's going to be a very long ballot," Davis said.
Some Knox County voters in general may also find that individual races in their districts are crowded -- another reason to read up on who's running. For example, there are six people, including five Republicans, running for the District 5 County Commission seat right now.
Overall, seven Knox County Commission seats are up for election as well as four Knox County Board of Education seats. The property assessor's post and the law director are both up for election, and voters will be asked if they want to keep Hector Sanchez in as Knox County Criminal Court judge.
Surrounding counties will hold their own elections, and the counties will see many contested races.
A new state law requires election officials to post signs outside polling places that say voters must be a "bona fide member or affiliated with" or declare allegiance to a party in order to take part in that party's primary. They otherwise could face prosecution, according to the legislation.
Knox County voters will see "neon yellow" signs at local polling places.
But, Davis said, polling judges won't be policing that warning. The signs will be posted, but no one will be demanding to see credentials, he said.
"Keep in mind that primaries are meant to be for the members of that party to select our nominees for the general election," Hargett said. "It's seldom challenged. I don't know that this year is going to be any different. I don't look for an increase in the challenges."
There is no party registration in the state. It's been that way for decades. People have long been able to ask for the ballot of whatever party they wanted.
The law is being challenged in federal court in Middle Tennessee. It's possible a judge could order it be held in abeyance while the lawsuit is litigated.
Davis asks that voters show county election workers some grace. If you're frustrated, don't take it out on the workers.
"Certainly, 2024, I think, is going to be very contentious not only in our community but all over the country. I would ask voters just to understand that our election workers are your friends and family in the community. They're the people you go to church with. They're the people you see in the grocery store," he said.
