By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—For the first time in Henry County history, there will be no May primary and instead both the Republican and Democratic parties will caucus.
Henry County Elections Administrator DeLaina Green announced at Tuesday’s election board meeting that she had been formally notified by both the County Republican and Democratic Parties that they will be holding caucuses instead of calling for a primary.
For Henry County, it will be unchartered territory, but Green said the county will not be alone, since much of West Tennessee is moving toward caucuses instead of primaries.
Several local offices are up for election, including County Mayor, five County Commission races, County Trustee, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, five Road Board Commissioners, all five Constables, two County School board members and three Paris Special Schools District board members.
Green said the election commission plays no role whatsoever in the caucuses. “When people ask us questions about it, we are to refer them to the Republican and Democratic parties. The elections offices are to have nothing to do with the caucuses.”
State and local party caucuses are run by the state party hierarchies, she said.
The election commission unanimously called for the August General and State Primaries which will be held August 2.
In other business at the meeting, the board heard updates from Green on preparing for the upcoming election, including new voter purge procedures and procedures for the most effective and efficient way of backing up information handled by the elections office.
Green said the Voter Registration Drives that were conducted by her office during National Voter Registration Month were the most successful ever. She said she conducted drives at the library, the county fair, and the high school and signed up 300 new voters, with 171 of those being at the high school.
Photo: Elections Administrator DeLaina Green presents reports to elections board members at tonight’s meeting. (McFarlin photo).
