NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Early voting for the Nov. 6 election begins Wed., Oct. 17.

Early voting runs Mondays through Saturdays and ends Thursday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The voter registration deadline ahead of this election was Tuesday, Oct. 9.

“Tennesseans broke August early voting records as they selected nominees and elected county officials, and I know interest remains high as voters prepare to select leaders across all levels of government on the November ballot,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Early voting offers voters more opportunities to find a convenient time to cast their ballots.”

Voters can download the GoVoteTN app, available in the App Store or Google Play, to view voter-specific information. Voters can find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more. The platform is also available at GoVoteTN.com.

“Each county election commission sets their own locations and hours for early voting, and voters can check information for their county before they head to the polls by using our app,” Secretary Hargett said.

State law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary surrounding each entrance remain campaign-free zones. Tennessee law prohibits the display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot in these areas.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security as well as photo IDs issued by Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found here: What ID is required when voting? <https://t.e2ma.net/click/izk9l0/uklxtt/at2wcgh> or by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.

The Smith County GOP and the Smith County Young Republicans will host a Smith County Republican Picnic on Thursday, October 11, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. The picnic will be held at Dr. David McDonald’s farm in South Carthage at 137 McCall Street.

The picnic menu will feature barbecue, chips, drinks, and desserts.

All republican political candidates are invited to attend.

Senator Mark Pody, Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, and Congressional candidate Mr. John Rose have confirmed that they will be in attendance.

You can RSVP and learn more about the picnic on Facebook.

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The Smith County Insider Candidate Forum and Meet & Greet will be held on Monday night, October 15, 2018. The event will begin with a Meet and Greet at 6:00pm, followed by a Forum led and moderated by Matthew Inyart at 7:00pm. The event will take place at the Smith County Ag Center located at 159 Ag Center Lane – Carthage, TN 37030.

The Smith County Candidate Forum and Meet & Greet offers Smith County community members the opportunity to become more informed citizens. *ALL candidates are invited to attend, but must register with Smith County Insider by October 12, 2018. A list of confirmed candidates will be updated and listed leading up to the event.

All candidates running for Gordonsville and Carthage Alderman, Carthage Mayor, State Representative, State Senator, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, and Governor of Tennessee are invited to attend.

The event is sponsored by the Smith County Democratic Party and the Smith County Young Republicans.

Candidates will have the opportunity to speak for 3 minutes.

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Below is a press release issued by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett concerning voter registration:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is warning voters to be aware of misleading information regarding voter registration as the deadline to register for the November election approaches on Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

The Office of the Secretary of State has received reports of groups contacting registered voters and telling them that they are not registered to vote. Others have reported receiving pre-populated voter registration forms for individuals who are deceased and have been removed from the voting rolls.

The National Association of Secretaries of State has warned states about a scam where an organization is making calls and offering to register voters by phone. While these calls have not been reported in Tennessee, voters should be aware that they cannot register by talking to a person on the phone.

“To avoid misleading information, I urge voters to come straight to the source,” Secretary Hargett said. “Tennessee’s election officials are dedicated to making sure voters have all the information they need to participate in the November election.”

For accurate information regarding voter registration in Tennessee, voters are encouraged to visit GoVoteTN.com to register to vote or check their registration status. Voters can also contact the Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959 or their county election commission with any questions about voter registration.

Registering to vote is easy in Tennessee. Tennessee citizens may register by-mail or online. Online voter registration allows any U.S. citizen with a driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to register online.

Voters can also download the GoVoteTN app, available in the App Store or Google Play, to view voter-specific information. Voters can find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more.

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Matthew Watts

CARTHAGE—Small business owner and incumbent City Councilman, Matthew Watts, has announced his campaign for a second term to the Carthage City Council. First elected in 2014, the council has accomplished several projects with Watts’ leadership, including the new walking track, water tank, and improvements to both the water and sewer plants.

“With the great progress the City of Carthage has seen in the past four years, I’ve been blessed and honored to see just how much we can accomplish. I hope that with your support and vote, I can help continue this growth and progress of our great town,” Watts said.

Watts is a lifelong resident of Carthage and has one daughter, Margaret (6). He is the owner of 301 IT (formally Digital Square) and attends North Carthage Baptist Church. Matthew is very involved in the community in Carthage where he is a member of the Masonic Lodge, The Shriners, President of the South Carthage Civitan Club, and a board member for the Smith County Heritage Museum.

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Cole Ebel

My name is Cole Ebel and I am officially announcing my candidacy for Carthage City Council. My objective is to bring transparency into government, especially local government.

When our form of government was founded, many understood the reasons for divisions of government; divisions that kept power in check. These divisions being the Executive, Legislative and Judicial side. These divisions many times are forgotten at the local level. Too many times, I watch all of these branches work as one, not challenging thoughts, but going along to get along.

We need to work more as a community and rely less on the government. We shouldn’t have to ask permission to exercise individual rights. We shouldn’t have to pay extortion fees to trade freely.

As a representative of not only the citizens of Carthage, but the businesses of Carthage, I will promise to question everything brought before me. I will always raise a motion or second a motion, this way a vote is called upon and citizens can see where their representatives stand on issues, instead of hiding behind a question failing to call.

We do not have a revenue problem, but a spending problem. Because of this, I will never advocate raising taxes, we already pay too much.

I will encourage small business growth and find ways to get government out of the way so businesses can open and operate without the oversight of big brother.

I will work to find solutions to the opioid crisis through medical help instead of continually criminalizing a medical problem.

I will work to find fiscally sound solutions to problems instead of throwing money at the problem. There are always more than two paths forward.

I will work to have the community more involved in decisions that affect their every day lives, with less secretive projects popping up and more canvasing on what is best for the community.

I will work to find ways to give our local businesses a vote in politics. It is a shame that we founded this country on the basis of “No Taxation Without Representation” yet so many businesses in Carthage have zero representation. I will represent those businesses.

Last, I will always stand on principle above all. This is not a position I am running for to elevate myself, but a position I am seeking to represent the citizen. I cannot do this alone nor would I seek to. We must do this together.

I humbly ask for your vote on November 6th. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to know more about my positions, you may contact me at ColeEbel.com. Thank you.

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The Smith County Commission met for their scheduled meeting on Monday night, September 10, 2018 at the Smith County Courts and Jail Facility.

See video of the meeting below:

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My name is Donnie Dennis and I have been proudly serving the citizens of Carthage as mayor for the past four years. My time in office has been some of the most productive and meaningful of my life, and I am just getting started.

As mayor, I have been involved in numerous projects that are specifically designed to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community. My staff and I have worked diligently to improve our water and sewage systems. We have made great progress and are on our way to having the best water and sewage infrastructure in our town’s history. I have worked hard to provide clean, affordable water for the residents of Carthage. My team identified the expansion and improvement of our town’s infrastructure as one of Carthage’s most pressing needs. I am proud to say that our infrastructure is much better today than when I took office.

We have worked to promote quality of life issues throughout Carthage. We have provided funding for youth programs, our soon-to-be-constructed town amphitheater and walking trails, new protective vests for the safety of our police officers, security cameras at our water treatment plant, and many others, with many more already planned for my second term. I have established beneficial relationships with state and federal funding agencies, as well as Governor Haslam, to secure funding for Carthage, all of which is designed to promote and further the economic and cultural interests of Carthage and Smith County.

My staff and I are working to recruit new businesses and development partners to our community. I am committed to developing our assets in a responsible, culturally sensitive, and sustainable manner that promotes smart growth. Our goal is to continue to enhance the quality of life in our community in order to strengthen our ability to attract a diverse group of development partners to our community.

During my first term as mayor, I have outlined current and future opportunities to enhance our community’s connectivity. The downtown revitalization plan, highlighted in the Walton Road Historic Byway corridor management plan, delineates further improvements that will connect the entire town of Carthage in a sustainable, livable manner, all in an effort to enhance Carthage’s downtown economic development potential, increase community-wide connectivity, preserve and maintain our unique downtown identity, and continue to enhance our quality of life. I have done all of this in conjunction with the Carthage Town Council, in an effort to be as fiscally responsible as possible. I am aware that I am a steward of our town’s financial resources, and as such, I work hard to utilize our funds as responsibly as possible. We have gotten a lot done by utilizing our funds in an efficient, community-oriented manner.

I am proud of my accomplishments as your mayor, and I am proud of the hard work and dedication of my staff. I look forward to a bright future for our wonderful community, and I look forward to continuing our work to make Carthage all it can be and more.

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(Smith County Insider Press) Carthage, Tenn. – Gordonsville and Carthage’s Municipal Election, along with the State General Election will be held on November 6, 2018. The election for Carthage will include a referendum for the Sale of Wine in Retail Food Stores, Mayor and three Aldermen. The Gordonsville election will include three Aldermen. There will also be a Sales Tax referendum on the ballot for the Smith County Government.

Election Day will be on November 6, 2018. Early voting will be held at the Turner Building from October 17 until November 1.

The following is a list of the candidates, offices and referendums that will be on the November 6, 2018 Ballot.

State General Election

• TN Governor – 4 year term
• U. S. Senate – 6 year term
• U.S. House of Representatives, 6th District – 2 year term
• TN Senate, 17th District – 4 year term
• TN House of Representatives, 40th District – 2 year term

Smith County Referendum

Sales Tax Referendum: For or Against the Repeal of the Resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Smith County on September 20, 1999 which levies an additional ¾ of 1% local sales and use tax on the same transactions and privileges occurring in Smith County, subject to the Tennessee Retailers Sales Tax Act?

Carthage Mayor

• Donnie Dennis
• Sarah Marie Smith

Carthage Aldermen (3)

• Tracy “TC” Carter
• Cole Ebel
• Roy Elthridge
• Sam Petty
• Billy “Bill” K. Reece
• Matthew G. Watts

Carthage Referendum

Sale of Wine in Retail Food Stores Referendum: For or Against the legal sale of wine at retail food stores in Carthage

Gordonsville Aldermen (3)

• Ronald L. Burton
• Charles E. Chaffin
• Michael W. Harpe
• John Potts
• Charles E. Proffit

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CARTHAGE, Tenn.—On August 2, 2018, State Primary and County General Elections were held in Smith County, Tennessee. Polls were open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, and voters had opportunities to vote early prior to that.

Reports from the Smith County Election Commission detailing the election results began to come in around 7:30 p.m. on the night of August 2.

According to the reports, a total of 5469 Smith County citizens voted in the primary race. 2311 of these votes were cast on Election Day, and 3158 were submitted during Early Voting.

11,581 registered voters currently live in Smith County. 47.22% of those voters went to the polls on Election Day.

Read below for a complete list of August 2018 Election results for Smith County. Winners of each race are indicated in red.

You can view the reports on the Election Commission website here.

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CARTHAGE, Tenn. — For the past several months, campaign signs for the five candidates running for Mayor of Smith County have dotted the landscape. The results of the much-anticipated mayoral race were announced on August 2, 2018, and it was determined that Jeff Mason will be the next Smith County Mayor.

Jeff Mason is a lifetime Smith County resident. He grew up in South Carthage, and he currently resides in the Plunkett’s Creek community with his wife Amanda and their three children, Maggie, Lou, and Jax Mason.

According to his initial campaign announcement, Mason was raised to understand the value of hard work, and he is committed to serve the citizens of Smith County. As mayor, he will focus on bringing high-tech, high-pay jobs to the county and strive to continue the path of opportunity and growth that the current administration has established.

“It’s a good night!” Mason exclaimed in a phone conversation with Smith County Insider soon after the results of the election came in. Mason described the atmosphere of the room where his campaign team received the results as “a mob of happy, orange shirts.”

Mason won the election with a total of 2,409 votes, which amounted to 44.88% of the 5,368 votes cast in the mayoral race.

Upon receiving news of his win, Mason humbly extended his appreciation to the voters of Smith County. He also thanked God, his friends, family, and the people who worked behind the scenes and on the front lines of his campaign.

“We’re glad to see the fruits of our labor,” Mason said.

Current Smith County Mayor Michael Nesbitt was on the phone to congratulate Mason, and Nesbitt made clear that his door would be open to him anytime he needed advice. “I’ll do everything I can to help make this a smooth transition. I believe you’ll do a good job. I believe your heart’s in a good place,” Mayor Nesbitt told Mason.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m prepared and ready to go to work,” Mason said.

In closing, Mason thanked the voters of Smith County again, and he congratulated his fellow mayoral candidates for the way they conducted their campaigns. Mason also thanked Mayor Nesbitt for his dedication and service to Smith County.

“I look forward to getting started. And I’ll probably see you Monday morning!” Jeff told mayor Nesbitt in closing.

Mayor Nesbitt will end his 16-year mayoral term on August 31, 2018. Mason will officially step in to the role of Smith County Mayor on September 1, 2018.

You can listen to Smith County Insider’s phone conversation with Mayor-elect Mason here. You can also learn more about Jeff Mason by reading his campaign announcement.

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CARTHAGE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Secretary of State has released reports revealing the total number of absentee and early votes in Smith County. The totals appear to be slightly lower than those in the past few election cycles.

Early Voting began on July 13, 2018, and continued through July 28, 2018. Smith County residents were able to cast their votes at the Turner Building in Carthage, Tennessee, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

According to reports published by the Secretary of State, a total of 3,146 voters showed up at the polls during Early Voting. Of those voters, 2,297 cast votes in the Republican Primary, and 811 voted in the Democratic Primary.

Four years ago, 3,211 voters participated in Early Voting during the 2014 State Primary and County General Elections. Comparatively, 4,317 voters voted early in the 2010 State Primary Election.

Early Voting totals for the 2016 General Election were even higher, with 4,756 Smith County residents voting early. 4,035 residents voted early during the General Election in 2012.

More results from recent elections can be found on the Tennessee Election Commission’s official website.

Smith County residents who did not vote early will have the chance to cast their votes on Election Day, which is set for Thursday, August 2, 2018. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Read below to see the voting locations for all 8 Districts in Smith County:

District 1 – Defeated

The Carver Barn

315 Defeated Creek Highway

Carthage, TN 37030

District 2 – Tanglewood

Smith County Motor Company

211 Dixon Springs Highway

Carthage, TN 37030

District 3 – New Middleton

New Middleton Elementary School

402 New Middleton Highway

Gordonsville, TN 38563

District 4 – Rock City

Union Heights Elementary School

663 Lebanon Highway

Carthage, TN 37030

District 5 – Gordonsville

Gordonsville Municipal Building

63 Main Street East

Gordonsville, TN 38563

District 6 – Carthage

Chamber of Commerce

939 Upper Ferry Road

Carthage, TN 37030

District 7 – South Carthage

Senior Citizens Building

120 Pauline Gore Way, Suite B

Carthage, TN 37030

District 8 – Elmwood

Forks River Elementary School

611 Cookeville Highway

Elmwood, TN 38560

Please remember that Smith County residents must be registered to vote and must be able to present a valid photo ID issued by the Tennessee or U.S. government in order to vote in the August 2 election.

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