CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – With the August election complete and the November 3 quickly approaching, many Tennesseans are talking about voting, particularly absentee voting.

Montgomery County saw healthy voter turnout in August, with many registering through the county’s new online process.; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has produced some obstacles for the electoral process. Polling sites implemented additional strategies to protect voters, and many chose to vote by mail using absentee ballots. This uptick in absentee voters has sparked a national discussion surrounding the process.

To understand absentee voting better, Clarksville Now contacted Montgomery County Administrator Elizabeth Black.

What is absentee voting

Multiple requirements must be met in order to receive an absentee ballot. To vote absentee, you must be a registered Tennessee voter with a qualifying excuse or reason for not voting in person. A voter with a valid excuse may apply online to have an absentee ballot sent to them, which must be mailed back to the Election Commission.

Accepted excuses include being 60 years old or older, being hospitalized or the caretaker of one who is hospitalized, being enrolled as a full time student in an accredited college outside of the county or having a spouse that is, or being a active duty military. For a full list of accepted excuses, click here.

Because absentee ballots must be returned through the mail system, it is important to send them out well ahead of time. The Election Commission’s website recommends doing so at least 7 days before Election Day.

If you are in need of an absentee ballot, click here.

Election security

The security of voting by mail has become a topic of debate recently, with a number of high-profile public figures claiming that the practice invites doubt into election results either due to fraud or a delay in counting.

When asked about these concerns, Black expressed her confidence in the state’s absentee process. She said that, because absentee ballots are only sent out upon the individuals request and are verified by signature, the process is difficult to falsify.

Regarding delays, Black said that a ballot must be received before the closing of polls on Election Day. This gives officials time to count votes and release results in a timely manner.

“I feel very secure in our system. We know the number of the  ballot that we sent out to you. We have your signature from where you had to request that ballot. If your ballot comes back with a signature that doesn’t match that, we will contact you and you will have the opportunity to come down and fix that if you can,” said Black. “I feel very secure in Tennessee elections. I think the August one went very well.”

Voting in the time of COVID

In the August election, eligible voters were able to request an absentee ballot citing COVID-19 concerns as an excuse. On Wednesday, August 6, the state Supreme Court voted 4-1 to overturn that policy for November, meaning that concerns surrounding COVID-19 are no longer considered a valid excuse for absentee voting.

However, Montgomery County took several precautions to protect the health of voters in August. Black says these same precautions will be implemented in November.

“We will do our very best to make voting as safe as possible like we did in August. We want people to feel safe. I think that August was a good experience for the folks that came to the polls, and we plan on implementing those things again. Anybody that wants to vote in person, we will make sure that that is a good experience for them,” said Black.

Poll workers needed

In  the August election, Black said that approximately two thirds of poll workers were first timers, with many regulars having chosen to stay away due to health concerns or other reasons.

Montgomery County requires between 325-375 poll workers for Election Day to move forward at full efficiency.

Poll workers are not volunteers, and are paid for their time. Black said that poll workers are always in demand and that the help is very much appreciated In order to apply as a poll worker, click here.