Tennessee secretary of state celebrates Carter Co. Election Commission expansion

Murry Lee
·2 min read
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CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tennessee’s secretary of state and several state lawmakers were in Carter County Friday to mark an addition to the county’s election commission.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett helped cut the ribbon on an expansion at the election commission, located at 116 Holston Avenue in Elizabethton.

The annex to the building will house new voting machines. A $25,000 state grant helped cover the cost of the addition.

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Hargett told News Channel 11 the new machines will help create a reliable paper trail come voting season.

“The county government, city government and the State of Tennessee came together to help fund this annex so that we can have a place where we can safely secure the new election machines that were purchased to make sure that we have a verified paper audit trail into Carter County and across the state,” Hargett said.

<em>Photo: Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett helped cut the ribbon on an addition to the Carter County Election Commission that will house new voting machines. (WJHL)</em>
Photo: Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett helped cut the ribbon on an addition to the Carter County Election Commission that will house new voting machines. (WJHL)

According to Hargett, providing a secure voting system is paramount in the digital age.

“Now more than ever, people want to make sure that their votes count at once, no more, no less,” Hargett said. “And a lot of people focus on the cybersecurity of elections, but the physical security of these machines is equally as important to make sure that no one has untoward access to them.”

Hargett also touched on the upcoming primary election and the importance of voting for Tennesseans.

“Early voting starts Feb. 14. Election Day is March 5, and we got elections in August, November as well,” Hargett said. “And so now it’s critical we get this done. We’re here less than two weeks before early voting starts, so glad we can make this happen [and] delighted to play a part. This is just some of Carter County’s tax dollars coming back to Carter County.”

State Sen. Rusty Crow and state Reps. Timothy Hill and John Holsclaw also attended the event.

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