A state official says the Davidson County Election Commission broke the law by closing on a Saturday during early voting. Officials say that’s an issue they’ll talk about – after they get through next week’s Super Tuesday election.
Tennessee Election Coordinator Mark Goins says this year’s President’s Day holiday was no excuse for Metro polls to sit closed the Saturday prior. But Goins says dealing with the fallout will have to wait, because the presidential primary is looming.
“I mean, it’s happened. So right now you’ve just got to keep your eye on the prize. What’s the prize? Conducting a fair and effective and efficient election on March 6th. So that’s what we’re doing. And there’s no reason to let it consume your time thinking about it.”
Failing to open polls on a Saturday is taken seriously, because it opens the door to potential lawsuits. Two years ago a similar lapse got an election administrator suspended in Rutherford County until he retired.
Goins says the commission gave plenty of notice and time to vote early, so he doesn’t expect a fight over the results.
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