By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–This is an especially busy time for the Henry County Election Commission, with the new voting equipment arriving, the first county-wide test at all eight new voting centers set for today, and an open house for the public to familiarize themselves with the new equipment set for early January. All this, of course, is leading to the election set for March 5, 2024.
At its regular meeting Monday, the election board viewed the new equipment and heard Administrator DeLaina Green discuss new space at the Election Commission for the overflow. “You can see how much space each piece of equipment takes,” Green said.
The Election Commission is located at the former Weston Hall on Grove Blvd. and she noted that the Election Commission was given more space in the building, but, “We’re already full in there.” County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway recently approved using space currently occupied by the Airborne Gymnastics “and that will help tremendously,” she said.
An open house is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. January 9 for the public to view the new voting equipment. A representative from the vendor Microvote will be on hand to answer questions.
In other business:
–The board reviewed a new protocol for handling the possibility of Fentanyl or other drug contamination coming through the mail. She said Sheriff Josh Frey said if employees see any kind of powder on any mail, they are to call 911 immediately, then call the sheriff’s office. She said the Elections Commission office now has NARCAN on hand. She said this has not been a problem in Tennessee, but that six other states have reported it.
–The total number of voters currently in Henry County is 21,671 (19,106 active and 2,565 inactive).
–Green reported they currently have 74 poll workers signed up for the next election, with 10 pending.
–Neither the Henry County Democratic Party nor Republican Party have called for a primary for the next election, which is set for March 5, 2024.
Photo: Henry County Elections Commission Administrator DeLaina Green shows the new voting equipment. Shannon McFarlin photo.