Early voting drops to 28-year low in Scott County
Plus: Anderson is new Vice President at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville
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Early voting drops to 28-year low
HUNTSVILLE | Early voting ahead of Scott County’s Aug. 6 general election dropped to a level not seen in almost 30 years.
With the close of polls Saturday, the final day of the two-week early voting period, a total of 3,694 voters in Scott County had cast their ballots ahead of the Aug. 6 general election and state primary. The last time that few people voted in the early voting period on the four-year cycle was 1998 — an election that saw Dwight Murphy elected to a second tenure as Scott County Executive and Don Sundquist win the Republican nomination for re-election as Tennessee Governor.
The numbers do not include Scott County’s “off-year” elections, which see only one county-wide race and a limited number of school board races and constable races on the ballot.
In 2022, the last election on the major four-year cycle, a total of 4,326 votes were cast during the early voting period, either in person or by mail. That was down somewhat from 2018, when a total of 4,810 votes were cast during the early voting period, a record that still stands in Scott County on the four-year cycle (early voting ahead of presidential elections has been higher).
Early voting in Tennessee began in 1994. That year 2,141 persons voted early in Scott County. The number climbed to 2,957 in 1998 and topped 4,000 in 2002. It had been above 4,000 every year on the four-year cycle since then, until this year.
Total in-person turnout (without absentee votes) during the early voting period on the four-year cycle looks like this:
1994: 1,920
1998: 2,657
2002: 3,858
2006: 4,336
2010: 4,035
2014: 3,989
2018: 4,457
2022: 3,955
2026: 3,501
The disparity is greater when considering the increase in registered voters. This year, a record 13,859 Scott Countians are registered to vote, according to Administrator of Elections Gabe Krahn. That means 26.7% of Scott County’s registered voters cast ballots during the 15-day early voting period, either in-person or by absentee ballot.
The percentage of registered voters — again, not including absentee voters — who have taken advantage of the early voting process on this election cycle through the years looks like this:
1994: 16.3%
1998: 21.5%
2002: 30.9%
2006: 31.2%
2010: 27.1%
2014: 29.4%
2018: 32.6%
2022: 29.8%
2026: 25.3%
Traditionally, more voters cast ballots during the early voting period than on Election Day. That has been the case in every election in Scott County since 2002, when nearly 52% of those who voted did so during the 15-day early voting period. Here are the numbers through the years:
1994: 26.3%
1998: 36.0%
2002: 51.7%
2006: 54.5%
2010: 58.1%
2014: 61.3%
2018: 65.3%
2022: 61.5%
Voter turnout has been declining in recent elections. In 2022, the last election on this four-year cycle, a total of 52% of registered voters cast ballots. Here are the percentages of total voter turnout since 1994:
1994: 69.2%
1998: 66.3%
2002: 63.1%
2006: 60.2%
2010: 50.1%
2014: 52.4%
2018: 53.9%
2022: 52.3%
It is impossible to draw conclusions from who a lower voter turnout favors. Traditionally, conventional wisdom in the U.S. assumes that lower voter turnout favors incumbent candidates. However, that logic applies to national elections — not local elections, where trends are more difficult to draw conclusions from.
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Anderson is Vice President at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE | Scott County native Misty Anderson has been named the new Vice President at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville, President Tim Smith announced Friday.
Anderson, who has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, is a Scott County native and former dual enrollment coordinator at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville who is returning home after a 12-year stint at TCAT Knoxville. She has served as Vice President of Human Resources & Compliance at TCAT Knoxville since July 2024.
“This is a homecoming in every sense of the word, and I could not be more excited,” Anderson said. “TCAT Oneida/Huntsville is where my career in technical education began, and its students are the reason I got into this work. I’m honored to return home to serve them — helping every student find a clear path to an education and a rewarding career that can change their family’s future, while providing our local industries with the skilled workforce they need.
“When our students succeed, Scott County grows stronger — one graduate, one family at a time,” Anderson added. “I’m grateful for every opportunity the College System of Tennessee has given me, and I can’t wait to bring everything I’ve learned back to the place where it all began.”
A graduate of Scott High School, Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and her master’s degree from Western Governors University. She began her career in higher education as an adjunct instructor in workforce development and special industry at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, and later served as Dual Enrollment coordinator before leaving for a position at TCAT Knoxville in 2014. There, she ascended to the position of Student Services Coordinator, and also served as Financial Aid Coordinator and Coordinator of Human Resources, giving her experience in all aspects of a TCAT institution. As vice president at TCAT Knoxville, she was in charge of human resources and compliance.
“This is a big win for TCAT Oneida/Huntsville,” Smith said. “Misty brings a wealth of knowledge and diverse experience to the table, which will enable her to serve our student population well. She has worked in all aspects of administration, and has also been in the classroom, so she understands TCAT and the TBR system inside and out.”
Anderson replaces Smith, who was named the college’s president earlier this year. He replaced Dwight Murphy, who retired after more than 20 years at the helm.
Today, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville offers nearly two dozen programs across three counties — Scott, Fentress and Morgan. The college celebrated the completion of two new buildings on its Oneida satellite campus earlier this year, and will celebrate the grand opening of a new satellite campus in Fentress County next month. It also offers post-secondary classes at York Institute, Clarkrange High School, the Morgan County Career & Technical Center, and Morgan County Correctional Complex. Additionally, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville dual enrolls students at high schools throughout the region, including schools in Scott County, Fentress County, Morgan County, Campbell County, Anderson County, and Union County.
In addition to its long-standing programs, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville recently added an Allied Health and Medical Assisting program in Huntsville and an Earthmoving Equipment Operator program in Oneida. New programs set to begin this fall include Aviation Maintenance Technology in Oneida, and Telecommunications and Underground Construction Technology in Fentress County.
For more information on any of the programs offered by TCAT, visit tcatoneida.edu. For financial aid inquiries, call (423) 663-4900 ext. 109.
Words of Wisdom
Each week, Preacher Johnny Polk and the Oneida Church of Christ present Words of Wisdom, short devotionals that are archived on our website. Here is the current Words of Wisdom. (Sponsored content.)
🌦️ Weather: There’s a 50% chance of thunderstorms today. Otherwise, we’ll see a mix of clouds and sun, with a high temperature near 80 degrees. The rest of the week will feature continuing thunderstorm chances and rising temperatures. We’ll generally be in the mid 80s each day with at least a 50/50 chance of scattered thunderstorms daily. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page — published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot — or always available at independentherald.net.
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📅 Community Calendar
Monday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center (Monticello Pike, Huntsville) offers a walking program, puzzles and games, and massage chairs every week day (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additionally, Golden Grooves Exercise will be offered today at 1 p.m.
Monday: Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services’ Mobile Health Clinic will be in the Walmart parking lot in Oneida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering integrated primary care and behavioral health. No insurance is not a problem. Call (866) 599-0466 for more information.
Monday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out. Phone: (423) 569-5972.
Monday: Scott County Commission will meet in work session at the Scott County Office Building, beginning at 5 p.m.
Tuesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Tuesday: Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 9:45 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required.
Tuesday: Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling.
Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).
Wednesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out.
Wednesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at the Highway 27 Unity Club in Oneida, beginning at 12 p.m.
Wednesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will offer Golden Grooves Exercise at 1 p.m.
Thursday: Polls will be open for Election Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Independent Herald will have live coverage of results beginning at 8 p.m.
Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You are eligible to receive food once per month. 569-8828.
Thursday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Thursday: The Oneida Special School District Board of Education will meet in regular session at the Central Office Training Center, beginning at 6 p.m.
Thursday: Narcotics Anonymous will meet at the Highway 27 Unity Club in Oneida, beginning at 7 p.m.
Friday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for ages 6-12).
The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. Citizens Gas Utility District pipelines are generally safe. They can be damaged by things such as excavation, natural forces, and automobile accidents. These can potentially cause a leak.Visit citizensgastn.com.
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Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
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