COVID Voters and Absentee Ballots Come In On Election Day

Cumberland, Fentress and Van Buren County said they have all seen absentee ballots and COVID positive voters turn up on Election Day.

Cumberland County Election Commission Administrator Jill Davis has seen the most of both so far, with 33 absentee ballots and about 16 voters using the COVID tent. However, Davis said that has not been her biggest issue today.

“A lot of address changes, people changing their address, it’s called a fail safe,” Davis said. “They’re having to change their address and go to the correct precinct, so yes that’s been our biggest issue today.”

None of the three counties were able to provide a number on their voter turn out by afternoon, but Fentress County Election Commission Administrator Joey Williams said his guess would be over 1,000. Davis said he will secure the last batch of absentee ballots.

“The post office has notified us that there will be some in a little while,” Davis said. “I’m going to the post office to pick them up, as long as they’re here by 7:00 PM.”

Van Buren County Election Commission Administrator Wayne Simons said the Postmaster is going to Cookeville to bring back absentees before polls close. Simons said in the afternoon he’d received two absentee ballots, and two voters using the COVID voting area.