It’s Time We Engage With Local Elections

Thanks to Executive Committee member Brooklynn White for this write-up. This is an editorial piece and does not reflect the views or opinions of the Sumner County Democratic Party.

It’s time to start thinking about local elections.

2026 will be bringing in midterm elections and we also will have local primaries in May with early voting starting in April. It is not as far away as you may think! All of the county commission seats and the county mayor will be up for reelection next year. If you are as unhappy as we are about some of the decisions being made (or not made) by the county commission, it is important to stay engaged and to vote in the midterm elections. The county commission has recently appointed Riley Gaines to the Library Board by way of amendment to legislation after midnight, denied a budget request needed for equipment by the Volunteer Fire Department in the Budget Committee (they are creating an adhoc committee to discuss a possible tax hike instead), tabled a funding request from the election commission in the budget committee, and some commissioners discussed wanting to rename Liberty Creek’s “Wolfpack Way” to “Charlie Kirk Way.”

We also have school board seats up for election- odd districts. Some recent topics of the school board have included denoting October 14th as Charlie Kirk Day, renewing Director of Schools Scott Langford’s contract, setting the school break in December and January of next year as “Christmas Break”- They rejected the proposed “Winter/ Christmas Break,” and discussing a project to make sure school playground are ADA compliant. Some other positions that appear on the ballot are things like the county roads superintendent. Elections are not only for the President!

Did you know the election commission has open meetings?

They are not used to much attendance, but they are open for the public. Stop by one of the election commission meetings to learn what they are up to and what is going on here in Sumner County as we go into the next election cycle. Meetings are held at the Election Commission Building at 1019 Union School Road in Gallatin (near Benny Bills and Animal Control) on the second Tuesday at 4pm- November will be on the 12th instead. You can also check out their website and read through their open meeting minutes to see what they have been discussing. “Election Commission” doesn’t exactly sound like the most fun meeting to watch, but the amount of work and details that go in to running an election with integrity is a lot and it is great to be engaged with what goes on. They also do very important business, and with so much discussion about election integrity and ensuring fair elections happen next year, it is always a good idea to let the election commission know we are here and to take an interest in the work they do.

-Did you know polling machines cannot be stacked when they are stored or it voids their warranty? I did not either until I started engaging with the election commission. I also learned convenience voting locations (like we use for early voting) accommodate more people per location and have a (higher) one-time cost up front while adding precincts has a lower cost each year but the cost is annual and the locations can support less people each.

Consider Being a Poll Worker or Poll Observer.

Our elections cannot happen without poll workers. It is not too early to consider being a poll worker. Several members of the SCDP have been poll workers before and speak highly of it. (PS, you don’t have to wear the red shirt). We also need election observers who know the rules and observe the polls to ensure rules are followed. For example, candidates cannot be campaigning or posting signs within 100 feet of polls. Our Election Commissioners can not be everywhere at once and poll observers help to report and violations or concerns. Poll observers are a volunteer position.

Interested in either position? Visit the Sumner County Election Commission Website to find out more.

Sumner County Election Commission Website: https://www.votesumnertn.org/