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Coffee County Election Commission approves May 5 primary ballots, certifies candidate petitions and reviews $70,000 budget increase
Summary
At its March 10 meeting in Manchester, the Coffee County Election Commission approved the May 5 primary ballots, certified candidate petitions for the August 6 election, completed a voter-registration audit with no deficiencies, reviewed a proposed $70,000 budget increase for 2026–27, and sealed ballot boxes for the May election.
The Coffee County Election Commission met Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in the Election Commission office at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza in Manchester and approved several routine election preparations ahead of the May and August election cycles.
Commissioner Emily Thoma moved to approve the minutes of the Feb. 24, 2026 meeting “as presented.” Commissioner Carol Berthay seconded the motion, which passed by unanimous approval. Commissioners then reviewed and approved the ballots for the May 5, 2026 primary; Commissioner Barbara Arp moved to approve the ballots as presented and Commissioner Larry McIntosh seconded. That motion also passed unanimously.
Administrator Andy Farrar read aloud and spelled the names of candidates who filed petitions for the Aug. 6, 2026 election. Farrar told commissioners each petition met the requirement of 25 qualified signatures and the filing requirements under the Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.). Commissioner Carol Berthay moved to approve the candidate filings; Commissioner Emily Thoma seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The commission reported it received 420 voter-registration forms during the first quarter of 2026 and audited 10 percent (45 forms). The audit found no deficient forms. Commissioners completed and signed the audit form; Administrator Farrar will send the signed audit to the State Election Office as required by T.C.A.
Farrar also reviewed the proposed 2026–2027 budget for the election office, which requests roughly $70,000 more than the prior year. Key line items include a 3 percent pay increase for office staff, one additional part-time worker for the 2026 election cycle, a $40,000 increase in the election-workers budget to cover August and November elections, $1,200 to replace a copier via state contract, a $10,000 increase for legal notices and a $7,750 contractual increase in maintenance agreements.
Finally, commissioners locked and sealed Election Day ballot boxes for the May 5 primary, verified the seal numbers and signed the ballot-box certification form that Administrator Farrar will send to the State Election Commission office. With no further business, Chairman William Bates adjourned the meeting. The minutes were signed and respectfully submitted by Commissioner Barbara Arp, secretary.
Votes at a glance: Minutes approval — moved by Commissioner Emily Thoma, seconded by Commissioner Carol Berthay; outcome: unanimous approval. Ballot approval for May 5 primary — moved by Commissioner Barbara Arp, seconded by Commissioner Larry McIntosh; outcome: unanimous approval. Candidate-petition approvals for Aug. 6 election — moved by Commissioner Carol Berthay, seconded by Commissioner Emily Thoma; outcome: unanimous approval.
