CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Administrator of Elections for Montgomery County, Elizabeth Black, spoke Tuesday to the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville, sharing details about her office and the upcoming elections for 2018.

Black said there are currently 101,444 registered voters in the county, adding that Tennessee ranks as the 40th state when it comes to voter registration but 50th in the nation for voter turnout.

Black said her office is run by five election commissioners which consist of three Republicans and two Democrats who are chosen by the state election commission.

Elections scheduled for 2018 include the Montgomery County Primary Election on May 1, the Tennessee State Primary and Montgomery County General Election on August 2, and the Tennessee State General and Clarksville City Election on November 6.

Black discussed the candidates for the May 1 Primary, which is the first ever primary for Montgomery County.

“All you’re going to see on that ballot are those who have chosen a party for a county office. If they have chosen to be an independent they will not be on the May ballot. There are parties and precincts that if you pick a certain party you may not have anything to vote on,” Black said.

Absentee and early voting is offered in all three elections this year, which Black says averages about 48 percent of registered voters.

There are 29 polling locations for voters to cast their ballots in the county.

“In Montgomery County we do have very low voter turnout. Our August 2016 election was about seven percent and the August 2014 election, which would be the same offices that are on this year’s ballot was only 20 percent,” Black said. “We have three elections this year and we’re very excited about it and we hope folks will come out and vote this year.”

If you are not registered to vote, you can visit govotetn.com and get signed up.

For more on the 2018 elections visit mcgtn.org/election, call 931-648-5707 or stop by the Montgomery County Election Commission Office at 350 Pageant Lane Suite 404 in Veterans Plaza, Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Also at the Tuesday meeting Kiwanis President Dan Black recognized two members, Joel Wallace and Thomas Durrett for their support of Kiwanis and the community along with their work with the Kiwanis Christmas Party and the Kiwanis weekly programs.