Early voting opens for Aug. 6 election

2026 election featuring county races, partisan primaries and judicial retention questions

8:00 a.m. July 17, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Early voting begins Friday, July 17, giving Moore County residents more than two weeks to cast ballots ahead of the Aug. 6 state and federal primaries and county general election.

The Moore County Election Commission will conduct early voting at the County Building, 241 Main St. in Lynchburg. Voting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays. The early-voting period continues through Saturday, Aug. 1.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, July 27.

County General Election

The county ballot features contested races for mayor, sheriff, county clerk, and Metro Council seats in four districts.

Keith Moses and Sloan Stewart are running for mayor.

Tyler Hatfield and William Raline are seeking the sheriff’s office, while Kelly Harrison is challenging incumbent Lacy Ivey for county clerk.

District 1 voters will choose between Jerry Burks Jr. and Sunny Rae Moorehead to fill an unexpired Metro Council term.

Six names appear on the ballot for three District 2 seats: Robert Bracewell, Douglas Carson, Hampton Hoffman, Payton Keller, Michelle Riddle, and Virginia “Jenny” Gold Saddler. Hoffman has withdrawn from the race, according to the Moore County Election Commission, but his name remains on the ballot.

In District 3, voters may select three candidates from a field that includes Chris Benson, Jayson Estfon, Dexter Golden, Houston Lindsey, and John Oosting.

Five candidates are running for three District 5 seats: Regina Adcock, Brady Goodwin, Cody Lanier, Brandon Ross, and Whitney Ross.

Several county offices have only one candidate on the ballot. Lynn Harrison is running for county trustee, Linda Wolaver for circuit court clerk, and Pam Wells for register of deeds.

Greg Thompson is the only candidate for the District 3 school board seat. No candidate qualified for the District 1 school board race.

State and Federal Primaries

Moore County voters may also choose Republican or Democratic nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, the 9th Congressional District, Tennessee House District 62, and District 14 state executive committee positions.

In the Republican primary for governor, voters will choose among Marsha Blackburn, Monty Fritts, and John Rose.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty is unopposed in the Republican primary. Charlotte Bergmann, Brent Taylor, Jeremy Thompson, and Todd Warner are running for the Republican nomination in the 9th Congressional District.

State Rep. Pat Marsh is unopposed for the Republican nomination in Tennessee House District 62.

Austin Maxwell is the only candidate listed for Republican state executive committeeman in District 14. Lynne Davis and Joanne Thompson Skidmore are running for Republican state executive committeewoman.

The Democratic primary for governor includes Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Jerri Green, Adam Kurtz, and Kevin Lee McCants.

Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate are Marquita Bradshaw, Maria Brewer, Kevin Lee McCants, Civil Miller-Watkins, and Diana Onyejiaka.

LaTroy A-Williams, London Lamar, Justin Pearson, and Jim Torino are seeking the Democratic nomination in the 9th Congressional District.

Brieanna Akers is unopposed for the Democratic nomination in Tennessee House District 62.

Matt Ferry is the only candidate listed for Democratic state executive committeeman in District 14, while Cynthia Cregier is the only candidate for state executive committeewoman.

Judicial Retention Questions

The ballot also includes seven judicial retention questions asking voters whether each justice or judge should remain in office or be replaced.

The retention questions involve Justices Kyle Hixson and Mary Wagner of the Tennessee Supreme Court; Judges William Phillips II, Steve Maroney, and Valerie Smith of the Tennessee Court of Appeals; and Judges Stacy Street and Steven Sword of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

Tennessee voters must present an acceptable government-issued photo ID when voting early or on Election Day. An expired Tennessee driver’s license or other qualifying photo ID is acceptable, but college student IDs cannot be used for voting.

Election Day is Thursday, Aug. 6. Voters who wait until then must cast their ballots at their assigned polling location.

Before heading to the polls, voters should verify their registration status and confirm their assigned polling place. Registration information, sample ballots, and precinct locations are available through the state’s GoVoteTN service.