Time to vote! National and local elections Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP file / Clay Jackson)
FAYETTEVILLE, Tennessee - When Tennessee's early voting closed Thursday, nearly half of Lincoln County's 12,000 registered voters had cast their ballots already, according to the Election Commission office in Fayetteville.
The rest of the voters will be voting along with most of the nation Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
Polls will open at the precincts around Lincoln County Tuesday at 9 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Tennessee law requires a government-issued photo ID, along with a voter's registration card, to vote.
Lincoln County election administrator Shelia Allen told Fayetteville's Elk Valley Times that, given the up-tick in new voter registrations and the enthusiasm on the first day of the election, she expects to see another record turn-out from Lincoln County voters. The local trend mirrors heavy early voting statewide. Turn-out for the 2008 presidential election was the heaviest on the state's records; this year is on track to set a new record.
In addition to the hotly contested race for U.S. president, voters in the City of Fayetteville will also decide whether to raise the city's sales tax a quarter percent, from 2.5 percent to 2.75 percent for a total of 9.75 percent. City leaders say the increased revenue will be used for capital improvements, such as sidewalks and roads.
A town hall meeting about the increase drew about 20 residents on Oct. 26, 2012.
This increase would bring the city's rate a quarter-penny higher than the county rate. Current Lincoln County sales tax rate is 9.5 percent, which is 2.5 percent added to the state's 7 percent sales tax rate.
Tennessee, like Alabama, requires voters to present two forms of identification. Accepted are the voter registration card and one other government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport.
Lincoln County voters will be voting in the presidential election, which includes the Democratic and Republican nominees as well as Green Party nominee Jill Stein, Constitution Party nominee Virgil Goode and independent candidates Rocky Anderson, Gary Johnson and Merlin Miller.
In other races, incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R) faces challengers from the Democratic, Constitution and Green parties as well as five independent candidates. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R) is being challenged by Democratic nominee Eric Stewart.
Lincoln County voters in the state's 14th Senatorial District, which includes most of the north part of the county, have no challengers to state Sen. Jim Tracy (R) in his bid for re-election.
State Rep. Pat Marsh (R), representing the state's 62nd Representative District, which includes most of northern Lincoln County, is also running unopposed.
County voters will also choose members of the Charter Commission, a group that hopes to re-organize the county government.
Voters in the City of Fayetteville will choose three of the six members of the city's Board of Mayor and Aldermen from six candidates. They will also choose three of the six members of the city's Board of Education from four candidates.
A sample ballot is posted at the Election Commission website.