CLARKSVILLE, Tenn, (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Early voting for the upcoming Nov. 8 election begins Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Montgomery County Election Commission’s Administrator of Elections, Vicki Koelman, spoke to ClarksvilleNow.com to explain the voting process.

Koelman did not want to specifically address partisan rhetoric. The issue of election integrity has been raised by Donald Trump in multiple speeches and on social media over the past few days.

Koelman said the approximately 350 poll workers in Montgomery County are good people who volunteer their time and are paid a small amount for their efforts. She said each of the 29 polling places employs both Democrats and Republicans at all times during an election.

“It’s sad that we would call their work into question. That’s why we have Democrats and Republicans at each polling place, with nothing to influence any one voter,” she said. “They wouldn’t allow something underhanded or something illegal.”

Montgomery County uses electronic voting machines that have undergone extensive lab testing and received certification from the Federal Election Commission, per the law. Koelman says this is a process that takes several years. The machines for this election have been in use since 2006.

She said the process for this election will be the same as all others in the past.

Koelman is unaware of any reports of election fraud in the county, but says voter fraud does occur occasionally. For example, a felon who lies to election officials and attempts to vote will be turned over to the District Attorney and prosecuted.

HOW DO I VOTE?
Any voter who is registered to vote at least 30 days before election day (Nov. 8) is eligible to vote early in that election.

Stop by the Montgomery County Election Commission on Pageant Lane during Early Voting hours to vote. The office is located just a couple of doors down from the Public Library on Pageant Lane.

You must bring a valid state or federally-issued photo ID. When you arrive you will be asked to verify your address. If your address has changed, it can be edited that day and you will still be able to vote, as long as you are voting early.

You will then be given an application that you take to a poll worker at a voting machine, who will explain how the machine works and allow you to cast your vote privately.

Koelman said even if the lines appear long, there are 24 machines at the Election Commission, so lines usually move quickly.

You can view a SAMPLE BALLOT to see the candidates for each race.

DATES AND TIMES:

Oct 19, Wed – 8:00 – 6:00
20, Thur – 8:00 – 6:00
21, Fri – 8:00 – 6:00
22, Sat – 8:00 – 4:00

Oct 24, Mon – 8:00 – 6:00
25, Tue – 8:00 – 6:00
26, Wed – 8:00 – 6:00
27, Thur – 8:00 – 6:00
28, Fri – 8:00 – 6:00
29, Sat – 8:00 – 4:00
Oct 31, Mon – 8:00 – 7:00
Nov 1, Tue – 8:00 – 7:00
2, Wed – 8:00 – 7:00
3, Thur – 8:00 – 7:00