DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Early voting is nearing an end as the last day to cast an early ballot is Feb. 27 with those who don’t vote early getting one more chance on March 5 during primary day.

Early voting is being held in Tullahoma at CD Stamps Community Center at 810 S. Jackson St., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Along with a presidential preference primary and a long list of delegate hopefuls, there will also be several seats determined in both city and county races including Tullahoma School Board and Coffee County Property Assessor. However, to weigh in on those races, voters must vote in the Republican Primary as there are no Independent or Democrat candidates seeking the office. The Democratic side of the ballot is a presidential primary in which President Joe Biden is running unopposed.

The winners of the Republican Primary will be without competition during the August General Election barring the entry of a last-minute write-in candidate.

Preregistration as a Republican is not necessary to vote in the local GOP election as that is done on-site as voters will be asked which primary they wish to vote in when they arrive to cast their ballot. Voting in the Republican Primary in the March Primary will not require the voter to vote in the same party for the General Election in August, or the Federal Election in November, and voters are under no obligation to cast their ballot in the long list of Republican delegate hopefuls. Voting in either primary, however, is recorded on the voter’s voting record.

While time to cast an early ballot will come to an end Tuesday, the General Election, along with the August Primaries for State and Federal position, is already being eyed by a handful who have picked up qualifying petitions, including one local businessman picking up papers to run for Tullahoma Mayor. In Tullahoma there will be three aldermanic seats and the mayor’s seat up for grabs in the August General Election.

Petros Pisinos has picked up his papers for Tullahoma City Mayor and was among three people who picked up qualifying papers for various offices this past week. Brandon Lee Imhoff picked up his papers for Manchester City Mayor, joining aldermen Robert “Bob” L. Bellamy and Joey Hobbs for the seat. Harold E. Jones picked up his papers for one of the Manchester City Alderman seats, and Veronica D. Owens picked up her papers for the 47^th State House of Representative seat, going against incumbent Rush Bricken. The other candidates who have picked up their papers thus far include Richard Dana Marshall as Tullahoma City Alderman, Rupa Blackwell for the State Executive Committeewoman and Khamai Marion’Day Rozier for the 4^th District U.S. House of Representatives seat. Janice Bowling is the first candidate to have qualified for her run for her 16^th District State Senate seat.

The final day to turn in qualifying papers is April 4 at noon.