Early Voting began this week in Chester County (Wednesday, Oct. 14) and will continue through Thursday, Oct. 29. The Early Voting Annex is open at 126 Crook Ave., from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday.
With Early Voting under way and the 2026 midterms scheduled for November 3, citizens should know their options, where to vote, and when early voting polls open. As of now, there are various options available for Tennessee residents to choose. These include the State Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and the Tennessee House of Representatives. The following candidates for State Governor are: Marsha Blackburn (Republican Nominee) and Jerri Green (Democratic Party Nominee), as well as the following Independent Candidates: Misam Abidi, Dean Brewer, Ray Borwn, David, Hatley, Wendell, Jackson, Charles Van Morgan, Eddie Lee Murphy, Lauren Pinkston, Victor L. Scoggin, Dave Seeman, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor and Robert C. Vick.
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives include: David Krustoff (Republican) and Heidi Kuhn (Democratic) as well as the following independent candidates: Adam D. Austill, Wendell “Wells” Blankenship, Antonio Futch, Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses, Horace Taylor and Henry J. Ward III. The Tennessee House of Representatives is currently represented by Kirk Haston for the Republican Party.
Additionally, three new constitutional amendments will be on the ballot. The first amendment listed on the ballot changes Article I, Section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution by allowing courts to hold a defendant without bail before trial if the defendant is accused of a grievous offense punishable by the death penalty, such as murder or aggravated rape. The second Amendment on the ballot adds text to Article II, section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution that prohibits the legislature from placing a state property tax on personal property. The third and final amendment on the ballot changes Article I, section 35 of the Tennessee Constitution, adding new rights to crime victims such as the right to fair treatment, protection from harassment, and to have their safety and families’ safety taken into account before decisions are made. Read Montezuma News in this week’s edition for more a more detailed explanation of these amendments, or go to https://sos.tn.gov/elections/announcements/2026-proposed-constitutional-amendments#2026
For more information about local voting precincts or schedules, go to https://votechestercountytn.gov/ or call the election office at 989-4039.
