Early Voting for Special Election Begins November 12

Seventh Congressional District voters in Wayne County are encouraged to utilize the upcoming early voting period for the December 2 Special General Election. The Special Election is being held to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Representative Mark Green, who announced his retirement in June of this year.

Representative Green stated at that time that he was offered a private sector opportunity “that was too exciting to pass up,” and announced he would be retiring from his Congressional seat.

Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn came out on top in the Special Election Primary, securing their party nominations.

Van Epps, the former Tennessee General Services Commissioner backed by President Donald Trump, won the GOP primary with around 49% of the 35,000 votes cast.

Behn, a Nashville State Representative, narrowly won the Democratic primary with around 28% of the vote. When the race was called, Behn had only won one of the 14 counties in the district, but finished second in counties containing Nashville and Clarksville, where the majority of ballots were cast.

“This is an important election, and every vote will matter,” said Lillie Ruth Brewer Administrator of Elections. “Go vote during early voting or on Election Day and help decide who will represent the 7th Congressional District.”

Tennessee has been ranked number one in the nation for election integrity for the fourth year in a row, and early voting is a safe and secure way to cast a ballot before Election Day.

“Election officials throughout the 7th Congressional district are working hard to ensure voters can cast their ballots,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I encourage all eligible voters to take part in this important congressional race.”

The 7th District includes 14 counties in Middle and West Tennessee: Wayne, Decatur, Perry, Hickman, Humphreys, Dickson, Cheatham, Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Houston, and parts of Williamson, Benton, and Davidson Counties.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification to the polls. A driver's license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by the Tennessee state government, or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

Early voting is one of two ways in which a registered voter of Tennessee may vote before the actual election day. The second way for a registered voter to vote early is called by-mail (or absentee) voting. Both early voting and by-mail voting are for the voter’s convenience. These two voting choices differ in that to vote by-mail, the individual must have a statutory reason. On the other hand, to vote during the early voting period, the person may vote purely for the sake of convenience.

For more information about early voting and the Special Election, visit GoVoteTN.gov or contact the Wayne County Election Commission at 931-722-3517.