Voting Goes to Church

Local churches agree to host polling places for 2020 elections, according to the Hendersonville Standard:

Two Sumner County churches have agreed to offer their facilities for early voting locations in 2020, according to Sumner County Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley.  

Both Freedom Church in Gallatin near Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and the Hendersonville Church of Christ near West Main Street will be used for early voting precincts for all three elections in the coming year. 

Atchley said her office had been scouting out locations for several months following elections in 2018. 

“People were parking and driving on the sidewalks during early voting here at the Sumner County Administration Building,” she said. “It was getting dangerous and the people who were coming here for other business like paying their car taxes were having trouble getting in. We had just outgrown this location.” 

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Atchley Throws Tantrum, Resigns

Sumner County Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley is throwing a fit (and playing and loose with "the facts") as she leaves her post by way of resignation.

The Hendersonville Standard has more:

Citing a growing frustration with the Sumner County Commission’s unwillingness to pay her employees a comparable wage, Sumner County Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley has resigned from the post she has held since 2011. Atchley’s resignation will become effective Nov. 18. 

While Atchley claims the County Commission is not paying attention to her staff's salary needs, here's what Budget Committee Chair Chris Taylor had to say:

Budget Committee Chairman Chris Taylor says the budget committee met and used the comparative information Atchley provided and came up with a fair raise of 12 percent for election office employees.

“Her budget was increased more than anyone else’s budget,” said Taylor. 

Atchley acknowledged that her department employees received a seven percent raise as well as the same five percent cost of living increase all county employees received.

Atchley also indicated she's tried to improving voting in Sumner County -- this despite the fact her office has actually worked to close polling places and reduce satellite early voting:

In recent months, the Election Commission has voted NOT to have satellite early voting in the Presidential Preference Primary in March -- which is also the primary for the Tax Assessor position. Then, the reaffirmed that vote, in spite of resolutions from the cities of Hendersonville, Portland, and Goodlettsville asking for the voting. And most recently, they voted against allowing a public comment period before meetings.

The facts just aren't on Atchley's side.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

What's Going on at the Election Commission?

Or, better yet: What's NOT going on at the Sumner County Election Commission?

In recent months, the Election Commission has voted NOT to have satellite early voting in the Presidential Preference Primary in March -- which is also the primary for the Tax Assessor position. Then, the reaffirmed that vote, in spite of resolutions from the cities of Hendersonville, Portland, and Goodlettsville asking for the voting. And most recently, the voted against allowing a public comment period before meetings.

Josh Nelson at the Hendersonville Standard has the most recent story.

While the story notes the Commission Chair's correct statement that satellite early voting hasn't been an option in previous presidential primaries, it's worth noting that this year's primary is in March -- just one month after the Iowa Caucuses (which take place on February 1st). That means it is very likely there will be viable candidates in the race at the time Tennessee votes, especially on the Republican side.

Should the Election Commission be making it easier for citizens to vote in such an important election? And, does satellite early voting increase participation.

The answer to both questions is YES. The Election Commission should be working to make it easier for qualified voters to cast ballots. And YES: When there has been satellite early voting in other elections, voter turnout (as a percentage) has increased.

So far, there's been no turning back from the decision not to have satellite early voting. And, the Election Commission isn't going out of its way to get public feedback on this issue.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

County Commission Meets Tonight

The County Commission meets tonight at 7 PM at the County Administration Building in Gallatin.  Among the agenda items? Formally expressing opposition to convenience voting.

Jerry Stone vs. Logic and Common Sense

Well, Jerry Stone is at it again.  Taking on common sense in a desperate attempt to hold on to the County Commission seat he holds so dear. But, this time, it's Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse taking Stone on -- and not letting him get away with bizarre and just plain dumb arguments.

It's all about the controversy over convenience voting in Sumner County.

Now, here's Sprouse calling out Stone in a strong way:

BLOCK THE VOTE UPDATE: Commissioner Stone Strikes Back
Last week Sumner County Commissioner Jerry Stone fought the opportunity to promote democracy and save taxpayers more than $125,000 every election year. He made his reason very clear: his personal need for last minute politicking outweighs his support of the public good.
Commissioner Stone must be feeling the heat for being selfish enough to think such a thing but honest enough to say it. Now he is backpedaling with a bizarre explanation.
Stone wrote: "The proposal furthers the goal of those who favor moving control from local elected officials to regional centers controlled by a...ppointed bureaucrats. I will always oppose proposals to move toward centralized decision making and away from local elected officials."

Stone did a great job of using Tea Party buzzwords, but the comment is just plain dumb. Nothing in the proposal would change who manages Sumner County elections. The proposed voting centers would be managed by the same local election officials who manage the current polling places.
What's really sad is Commissioner Stone's desperate swings at those who support the proposal. When he reads that many Strong Schools founders and members support the proposal, he dismisses us as a "special interest group". (Duh! Education is a durn good special interest.) When he reads a local elected official supports the proposal, Commissioner Stone dismisses the opinion because the official "was funded by the biggest Obama bundler in the state." (Is he talking about me because our highly respected neighbor Charles Bone gave my non-partisan reelection campaign $200 or is he talking about Baker Ring or Zach Young? Either way, is that the best shot he can take?)
Maybe Commissioner Stone opposes "moving control from local elected officials" because he is afraid voters would move control from local elected officials like him.

Stone's comments reflect a degree of paranoia not normally seen in local elected officials.

Let's NOT make Voting TOO easy, Ok?

Remember just a few short weeks ago when it appeared Sumner County was on the verge of progress and convenience voting would be coming to elections?

Not so fast, say County Commissioners.

It seems the Commissioners, who voted in committee 7-1 to oppose the convenience voting centers, think campaigning only takes place on Election Day.  This despite the advent of early voting, which claims 50% or more of all voters in Sumner.  And which allows voters to vote at sites other than their designated precinct.

Perhaps fearing backlash from their persistent opposition to funding for schools, Commission Chair Merrol Hyde and Commissioners Jerry Stone and Kirk Moser all noted their opposition to making voting more convenient for Sumner County citizens.  Since low turnout typically favors incumbent politicians, it seems no surprise that these unpopular incumbents would oppose a measure that has the potential to increase turnout.

What's somewhat surprising, however, is the fact that convenience voting has the potential to save Sumner County $125,000 per election.  For a County Commission so concerned about money they wouldn't release funds to allow schools to buy textbooks, it seems shocking that they're willing to spend more money in order to preserve an antiquated voting process that depresses turnout.

Some Sumner County elected officials are speaking out, however.

Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse said (via Facebook):

This is a shame. I'm for anything that makes it easier for people to vote. At least the county commissioners voting against this idea were forthright enough to admit they put their personal and purely political desire before the public good.
I'm someone who regularly spends 13+ hours standing in front of a polling place on Election Day. I enjoy seeing so many friends but I'd gladly give up the experience to make it easier for my neighbors to vote.
Sumner County voters, please remember what these commissioners said the next time you get up early or rush home from work to vote, stand in line for two hours, and later find out the wait ...at another polling place (one that you just passed) was only five minutes.

I just realized something. Fewer people vote in the county's May primaries and August general elections than in national and city elections. Maybe these commissioners realize that low voter turn out elected them and that greater voter participation, especially from working parents upset about school funding, may not reelect them.

Additionally, Goodlettsville City Commissioner Zach Young and Gallatin-area County Commissioner Baker Ring both spoke out in favor of convenience voting and against the Committee recommendation.



 

Convenience Voting May Come To Sumner

Sumner County is one of 10 counties that has expressed interest in a program called "convenience voting" that would allow citizens to vote at any polling location rather than those designated by the precinct where they live.

The program makes use of new technology which Sumner County is already using which allows for a voter's proper voting information to be fed into any voting machine.  So, if you were on your way home and passed a precinct with a short line, you could get in and vote and the machine would be set up for your proper precinct. 

Because the system is computerized and online, the votes are counted properly no matter which precinct a voter uses.

A similar process is used for early voting, allowing voters to show up at a designated central location and vote for the proper candidates for their district.

The move could come as early as the 2014 elections.