Elections - Historical Notes
The following is a listing of acts for McMinn County which affected the elective process, but which have been superseded or repealed. They are listed here for historical and reference purposes. Also referenced below is an act which repeals prior law without providing new substantive provisions.
- Acts of 1831, Chapter 57, provided that there would be a precinct polling place at the house of James Grigg in McMinn County.
- Acts of 1841-42 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 1, provided that McMinn County jointly with Polk and Monroe Counties would elect one representative to the state house of representatives. This act also provided for the election of one State Senator from McMinn County.
- Acts of 1841-42 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 7, placed McMinn in the Third U.S. Congressional District.
- Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 18, abolished the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Seventeenth Civil Districts of McMinn County, Tenn., and constituted new voting precincts for other districts.
- Acts of 1907, Chapter 102, abolished the then-existing civil district and redistricted the county into six civil districts. This act was amended several times; by Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 562, to change the boundary between the Second and Fourth Civil Districts; by Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 38, to change the boundary between the First and Third Civil Districts; by Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 125; to change the line between the First and Fourth Civil Districts and by Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 126, to change the boundaries between the Second and Third Civil District.
- Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 212, provided that registration was not a prerequisite to voting in McMinn County in any national, state, county or civil district election; though cities might require voters to register before voting in a city election. This act was amended by Private Acts of 1937 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 38, which provided for the registration of voters as a prerequisite to the elective franchise but only in incorporated towns.
- Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 663, changed the line between the First and Second Civil District of McMinn County.
- Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 151, specified that registration was not to be a prerequisite to voting in any election held in McMinn County, including municipal elections.
- Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 152, provided additional voting precincts in McMinn County and designated the polling places within each precinct.
- Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 539, changed the line between the First and Second Civil District and also altered the boundary lines between the Ninth and Sixteenth Voting Precincts.
- Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 606, allowed an election officer to mark the ballot of any voter who was unable to mark his own, provided that such was done in the presence of not less than two of the judges of the election, who were not to be members of the same political party.
- Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 607, established the Sixth and Twenty-third Voting precincts in the Second Civil District of McMinn County and established the polling places in those precincts.
- Private Acts of 1931 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 2, provided for the appointment of a "Deputy Registrar" in McMinn County, though it is likely that this act was meant to provide for the appointment of a deputy "register."
- Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 836, eliminated the seventeenth voting precinct of McMinn County and added its area to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth voting precincts of the county.
- Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 585, took a portion of the area in the 11th, 12th and 15th voting precincts of McMinn County and placed it all in the 12th voting precinct of the Third Civil District.
- Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 261, abolished the six civil districts then-existing in McMinn County and redistricted the county into three civil districts. The boundaries of the second and third civil districts were changed by an amendment found in the Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 205, but before this amendment could take effect, the original act was repealed by Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 541.
- Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 582, was a lengthy act setting up a comprehensive plan for permanent registration of McMinn County voters.