Early Voting Opens October 16 in Tennessee: What You Need to Know

Issue #241

15 Oct

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☁️ Columbia Weather - Cloudy with a high of 61

🗳 Early Voting Opens October 16 in Tennessee: What You Need to Know

🩸 Blood Assurance Partners with CPJI to Host Special Honor Drive

⭐️ Friday: Columbia KIDS Got Talent!

📌 October 26th: Kids Costume Contest at Fozzy’s Bar & Grill

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🍁 Check out The Ultimate Guide to Fall Fun Things in Middle Tennessee Here

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, October 15th

Wednesday, October 16th

Thursday, October 17th

Wednesday, October 18th

Friday, October 18th

Saturday, October 19th

Sunday, October 20th

Early Voting Opens October 16 in Tennessee: What You Need to Know

Early voting for primary elections in Tennessee begins Wednesday, October 16.

Who is on the Ballot?

The November 5 elections will be held for the President and Vice President of the United States, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate (even-numbered districts), and Tennessee House of Representatives. General elections will be held for vacant state judicial offices and applicable county offices.

Check the GoVoteTN app to see the races on your ballot. Search by voter or search by address to access your ballot.

When Can I Vote?

Early Voting will run until Thursday, October 31.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.

Voters are encouraged to take advantage of Tennessee’s early voting period. Find your early voting and Election Day polling place and hours in the GoVoteTN app.

What ID is Required When Voting?

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day must bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by Tennessee state government or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

Learn more about what types of ID are acceptable here or call the Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959.

How can I Check the Status of my Absentee By-Mail Ballot?

The Secretary of State’s Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker tool allows voters to track the status of their absentee by-mail ballot.

The deadline to request an absentee by-mail ballot is Tuesday, October 29.

You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.  You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or handing it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day is not permitted.

The easiest way for Tennessee voters to find Election Day information is through the free GoVoteTN app. Find early voting and Election Day voting locations, as well as hours of operation, view your sample ballot and much more with the GoVoteTN app available online or for free in the App Store or Google Play.

Blood Assurance Partners with CPJI to Host Special Honor Drive

Blood Assurance is partnering with the Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative (CPJI) to host a special Honor Drive on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 2-6pm at the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Annex, located at Penny Avenue in Columbia. The event, titled “Not Scaring, Just Caring: An Honor Drive for John Wesley Anderson,” brings the community together to support those in need of life-saving blood donations, while also promoting the importance of intentional kindness.

This drive is part of CPJI’s month-long Kindness Campaign. The goal is to encourage acts of kindness throughout the community. CPJI has selected different charities and activities during October to promote the theme of “people helping people.” Among their many initiatives is an ongoing project to erect a statue in downtown Columbia honoring Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

The honoree of this blood drive, John Wesley Anderson, is the son of Rev. Kenny Anderson, pastor of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. John lives with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a condition that often requires blood transfusions to manage pain. His willingness to lend his name to the event underscores the importance of blood donations for individuals battling SCD right here in our own community.

In speaking about the event, John Wesley Anderson emphasized the importance of a diverse blood supply, as those battling SCD need donors who are a close genetic match. “Your blood is unique, and it’s important for minorities to give blood,” said Anderson. “There are certain proteins that are in our blood that’s not in other ethnicities’ blood. So, no matter if the blood type is the same, there’s a chance that our body can have a reaction to the proteins that are in a person’s blood donation.”

The event will also feature an overview of Sickle Cell Disease and its impact on patients and their families.

Donors who give October 16 th - 31 st will receive special “Spooky Donor Socks” as a token of our appreciation. O-negative whole blood donors will receive a $25 e-gift card. O-negative double red donors will receive a $40 e-gift card. AB-plasma donors will receive a $25 e-gift card per donation.

To schedule your donation, visit www.bloodassurance.org/donate, call 800-962-0628, or text BAGIVE to 999777.

Friday: Columbia KIDS Got Talent!

Calling all young stars! Join us for Columbia KIDS Got Talent on Friday, October 18th at the Rotary Shelter in Woodland Park. This event is an opportunity for youth to showcase their talents and perform in front of friends and family.

The primary target age group is 7-14, but the event is open to anyone under 18. Each participant will receive a performer number, introduce themselves on stage, and wow the audience with their talents. Every performer will receive a medal, and we’ll wrap up the day with a group photo of Columbia's most talented youth with their families!

Friday, October 18th
Rotary Shelter, Woodland Park
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Open to anyone under 18 (primary age group 7-14)

For more information, please contact Kayln Blaylock at [email protected] or (931) 982-0135.

Come cheer on Columbia’s future stars!

October 26th: Kids Costume Contest at Fozzy’s Bar & Grill

You hear of all the places in town doing costume contests for adults, but none for the little ones! We are hosting our 1st annual kids costume contest with first place to win $200 cash.

The contest will be held on Saturday, October 26th at 11am at Fozzy’s Bar & Grill. Kids from 4-8 years old can get in with a max of 20 children accepted.

Check in time is 11am with stage appearance at 11:30am and voting at noon.

The way the voting will work is everyone who comes in the door will get 3 tickets. They can place all 3 tickets for one kid or spread them amongst their favorite costumes into the kids halloween buckets.

The kid with the most votes wins $200 cash. 2nd place wins $50 cash. 3rd place wins $25 Cash

We will also have kids halloween drinks and food options available.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, October 15th

Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
In Common Writers Round, Just Love Coffee Spring Hill, 7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 16th

Austin Gray, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, October 17th

Kyle Matthew, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
The Alderson Jazz Collective, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, October 18th

Kiana Renee, Grinder's Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
Rory Feek, Hardison Mill, 7PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
David Isenberg Trio, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Wentzel Brothers Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, October 19th

Brunch with Miles Damaso Group, Puckett’s, 10AM-2PM
Kenny Durham Trio, Puckett’s, 7:30-9PM

Sunday, October 20th

Kenny Durham, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Emily Stevens, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk