Freshman Rep. Jason Zachary says the first bill he brought before the House Local Government Subcommittee would have saved Knox County $30,000 if it had been in effect when he won a special election last year. The Knoxville Republican’s bill — HB1475 — would eliminate early voting in special elections when there is only one candidate on the ballot – the situation that occurred in 2015 when Zachary was the only candidate on the special general election to replace former Rep. Ryan Haynes, who vacated the 14th House District seat to become state Republican Party chairman.
Zachary defeated fellow Republican Karen Carson in the August 2014 special primary election. No Democrat sought nomination to the seat and no one filed the paperwork necessary under state law to qualify as a write-in candidate. The Knox County Commission proceeded to appoint Zachary to take the seat early, but — as required under existing state law — the county election commission proceeded with holding early voting prior to the special general election in September.
Zachary told the subcommittee last week that the early voting cost taxpayers about $30,000 and “this is a bill to protect the taxpayers” in the future based on his personal past experience. He said about 5,000 people voted in the contested primary while only about 200 in the uncontested general election.
Full Article: Knox lawmaker’s bill would eliminate early voting in special elections.