Early voting begins Friday in Tennessee

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Early voting begins Friday ahead of Tennessee’s Aug. 1 state and federal primaries and state and county general elections.

Voters will elect Republican and Democratic nominees for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is seeking re-election. She will face Tres Wittum in the GOP primary.

Multiple Democrats are running for their party’s nomination for Blackburn’s U.S. Senate seat, including Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Brown, Gloria Johnson, and Civil Miller-Watkins.

Primaries for the U.S. House will also be held, with two-term U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger running unopposed in the Republican primary in the First Congressional District. Two candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination: Kevin Jenkins and Bennett Lapides.

Primaries will also be held for the state legislature. While all state House seats are up for election, the only local state Senate seat up for grabs is in Senate District 4 (Sullivan and Hawkins counties), where incumbent Sen. Jon Lundberg will face challenger Bobby Harshbarger for the Republican nomination. No Democrats filed to run for the seat.

The only local state House seat contested in the primary is in House District 4 (Unicoi and part of Carter counties). The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. John Holsclaw, who is not running for re-election. Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander and Unicoi County Republican Party chair Renea Jones are seeking the GOP nomination. No Democrats filed to run.

Winners of the Aug. 1 federal and state primaries will advance to the Nov. 5 general election.

Counties will also hold their general elections for offices like mayor, county commission, and board of education. Some ballots will also feature municipal offices.

Early voting continues through July 27. Voters can find more information, such as polling locations, at GoVoteTN.gov .

Sample ballots can be viewed/downloaded below:

Carter County

Sample ballot

Greene County

Sample ballot

Hawkins County

Sample ballot – General

Sample ballot – Republican

Sample ballot – Democratic

Johnson County

Sample ballot

Sullivan County

Sample ballot – Republican

Sample ballot – Democratic

Unicoi County

Sample ballot – General

Sample ballot – Republican

Sample ballot – Democratic

Washington County

Sample ballot

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