BY ZACH THOMAS
MURFREESBORO – Early voting ahead of the August 1st elections will be held at nine locations across Rutherford County starting Friday through July 27th.
Voters will choose several candidates in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County offices as well as select primary nominees for federal and state legislative offices. These primary winners will advance to the November 5th election day.
Alan Farley, the Administrator of Elections for Rutherford County, encourages all who registered to visit a local election office, cast their vote, and trust the election committee.
Farley also reminds voters who registered to vote in the August 1st election should bring either their Tennessee driver's license, passport or any state-Tennessee-approved photo ID.
The Rutherford County Election Commission will offer six locations in Murfreesboro, two in Smyrna, and one location in La Vergne to cast your vote. Most locations will be open from 10 am - 6 pm on Monday-Fridays and 8 am - 12 pm on Saturdays.
Locations include the Lane Agri-Park Livestock Pavilion, Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors, Murfreesboro SportsCom, Rutherford County Election Commission Annex, Rutherford County Election Office, and World Outreach Church in Leadership Park in Murfreesboro, Grace Church and the Smyrna Town Hall in Smyrna, and the La Vergne Multi-Purpose Building in La Vergne.
Voters will have contested races for Republicans in Districts 13 and 34 State House of Representatives on the ballot along with choosing three people on the Murfreesboro City Council.
State House District 13 features incumbent Robert Stevens against Councilwoman Jami Averwater. Stevens is running for re-election for his second term in office. Averwater has served on the Murfreesboro City Council since 2022.
State House District 34 features incumbent Tim Rudd against Rutherford County native, Tucker Marcum. Rudd is seeking re-election for his fifth term in office. Marcum serves on the Rutherford County Public Building Authority, overseeing the construction of Public Safety and Health Buildings.
The Murfreesboro City Council race features three incumbents, Bill Shacklett, Kirt Wade, and Shawn Wright eyeing re-election as well as Kelly Northcutt and Matt Herriman. The top three will be the winners.
Shacklett served on the Murfreesboro City Council from 2002-2006 then was re-elected in 2014 and has served since. Wade has served on the City Council since 2016. Wright has served on the City Council since 2020. Northcutt has served as the chair of the Rutherford County Democratic Party. Herriman has previously worked as a Legislative Liason for Governor Bill Lee, Political Director for the Tennessee State Senate Republican Caucus, and Campaign Manager for State Senator Shave Reeves and former State Senator Jim Tracy.
For more information on the upcoming elections, visit the official website of Rutherford County.
