Polls close Tuesday for early primary election voting

JACKSON, Tenn. — More than 5,000 Madison County voters cast their ballots early in a presidential primary that’s grabbing headlines.

“I’m really happy and I feel good! I got my sign on — ‘I voted today,'” Mary Bond said.

The last of the early voters took to the polls Tuesday, and voters like Bond said she’s always voted early and plans to continue.

“I do early voting because it’s easier to get in and out for the traffic and because it benefits me better.”

Early voter Carlos Henning said, “If you don’t early vote, you can’t decide what person in the party you want to be running in November.”

The flow of voting traffic moved quickly despite the increase in voters compared to 2012.

“I think a lot of voters waited to make up their mind about who they wanted to vote for, so I think that’s why we’re seeing a surge here at the end,” said Kim Buckley, administrator of elections for Madison County.

Tuesday may be the last day for early voting in the primary elections, but if you haven’t cast your ballot yet, you still have a chance for your vote to count.

“Their option is to go to their assigned precinct on Tuesday, March the 1st,” Buckley said. “This early voting site [North Parkway] is not a voting site on Election Day.”

Voting on Election Day requires that you go to your designated voting location, which can be found on your voter registration card. But those who did vote early are excited for elections in November.

“It’s part of our civic duty to vote,” Henning said. “It’s part of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. We need to exercise this freedom.”

If you were not registered to vote by Feb. 1, you will not be able to vote during the primary elections. Registration for November elections reopens March 2.