Elections - Historical Notes

Districts - Reapportionment

The act listed below had affected the civil districts in Washington County, but is no longer operative regarding elections.

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 667, altered the county lines between the eleventh and twelfth civil districts of Washington County. This act was repealed by the Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 244.

    

Elections

The following is a listing of acts for Washington County which affected the elective process, but which have been superseded or repealed.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 are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1796 (2nd Session), Chapter 4, provided for the election of electors to elect a president and vice president of the United States. John Carter, John Adams and John M’Collister of Washington County were appointed to elect an elector in the District of Washington.
2. Acts of 1799, Chapter 16, apportioned the representation in the state legislature. Washington County elected two representatives to the Washington District.
3. Acts of 1799, Chapter 46, provided for the election of electors to elect a president and vice president of the United States. John Blair of Washington County was appointed as an elector for the Washington District.
4. Acts of 1803, Chapter 24, divided the state into five electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The counties of Washington, Greene, Carter and Sullivan composed the first electoral district and elected one elector.
5. Acts of 1805, Chapter 64, apportioned the representation of the state in the Tennessee State Legislature. The counties of Washington and Carter composed one election district and elected one senator.
6. Acts of 1805, Chapter 74, divided the state into five electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The counties of Washington, Greene, Carter, Sullivan and Hawkins composed the first electoral district and elected one elector.
7. Acts of 1807, Chapter 74, divided the state into five electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The counties of Washington, Greene, Carter, Sullivan and Hawkins composed the first electoral district and elected one elector.
8. Acts of 1812, Chapter 5, divided the state into eight electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The counties of Washington, Sullivan, Carter, Greene and Hawkins composed the first electoral district and elected one elector.
9. Acts of 1812, Chapter 27, divided the state into congressional districts for the election of representatives to the United States Congress. The first district was composed of the counties of Washington, Hawkins, Sullivan, Carter and Greene.
10. Acts of 1812, Chapter 57, apportioned the representation of the state in the Tennessee State Legislature. The counties of Washington and Carter composed one election district and elected one senator.
11. Public Acts of 1819, Chapter 69, apportioned the representation of the state in the Tennessee State Legislature. The counties of Washington and Carter composed one election district and elected one senator. In addition, the counties of Washington and Carter elected one representative jointly for the state legislature.
12. Public Acts of 1822, Chapter 1, divided the state into eight congressional districts for the election of representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Carter, Greene, Hawkins and Sullivan.
13. Public Acts of 1823, Chapter 47, divided the state into eleven electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The first electoral district was composed of the counties of Washington, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins and Greene which elected one elector.
14. Private Acts of 1823, Chapter 127, provided that all future elections in Washington County to elect electors to vote for a president and vice president of the United States be elected at the Widow Dillard’s house in Greasy Cove, at Sngersol’s, near Kibbler’s and at James Broll’s saw mill on the south side of Chuckey River.
15. Public Acts of 1824, Chapter 1, divided the state into eleven electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The first electoral district was composed of the counties of Washington, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins and Greene which elected one elector.
16. Public Acts of 1826, Chapter 3, apportioned the representation in the state legislature. The counties of Washington, Greene, Cocke and Sevier composed one election district and elected one senator. In addition, the counties of Washington, Hawkins, Greene, Jefferson, Grainger, Blount, Monroe and McMinn elected one representative each to the state legislature.
17. Public Acts of 1827, Chapter 17, divided the state into eleven electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The first electoral district was composed of the counties of Washington, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins and Greene which elected one elector.
18. Public Acts of 1832, Chapter 4, divided the state into thirteen congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Carter, Greene, Cocke and Jefferson.
19. Public Acts of 1832, Chapter 9, divided the state into fifteen electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The counties of Washington, Carter, Greene and Jefferson composed the first district.
20. Public Acts of 1833, Chapter 71, divided the state into representative and senatorial districts. The counties of Washington, Carter and Greene composed one election district, and elected one senator. In addition, the counties of Washington and Carter composed one election district and elected one representative.
21. Public Acts of 1833, Chapter 76, provided for the calling of a state convention for the purpose of revising and amending the state constitution. Washington County composed one district and elected one delegate to the state convention.
22. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 39, divided the state into fifteen electoral districts for the purpose of electing electors of a president and vice president of the United States. The counties of Washington, Carter, Greene and Jefferson composed the first electoral district.
23. Acts of 1842 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 1, apportioned the representation in the general assembly. The counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter and Sullivan composed the first senatorial district and elected one senator. In addition to electing one representative, Washington County jointly elected one representative along with Hawkins and Greene counties.
24. Acts of 1842 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 7, divided the state into eleven congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene and Cocke.
25. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 196, divided the state into ten congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene, Cocke, Jefferson, Hancock and Sevier.
26. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 197, apportioned the representation in the general assembly of the state. Washington County elected one representative and composed a senatorial district with Johnson, Carter and Sullivan counties.
27. Public Acts of 1865, Chapter 34, divided the state into eight congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene, Cocke, Jefferson, Hancock, Grainger and Sevier.
28. Public Acts of 1871, Chapter 146, apportioned the senatorial and representative districts in the state. Washington County elected one representative. The first senatorial district was composed of Washington, Johnson, Carter and Greene counties.
29. Acts of 1872 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 7, divided the state into nine congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene, Hancock, Claiborne, Union, Grainger, Hamblen and Cocke.
30. Public Acts of 1873, Chapter 27, divided the state into ten congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene, Hancock, Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen and Cocke.
31. Public Acts of 1881 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 6, apportioned the state into senatorial and representative districts. Washington County elected one representative and jointly elected a representative with Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Greene and Sullivan counties. Washington, Carter, Johnson, Sullivan and Unicoi counties composed the first senatorial district.
32. Public Acts of 1882 (2nd Sess.), Chapter 27, divided the state into ten congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Unicoi, Hawkins, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Claiborne, Cocke and Grainger.
33. Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 131, divided the state into ten congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives to the United States Congress. The first congressional district was composed of the counties of Washington, Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene, Hancock, Claiborne, Grainger, Unicoi, Hamblen and Cocke.
34. Acts of 1891 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 10, apportioned the counties of the state into senatorial and representative districts. Washington County elected one representative and jointly elected a representative with Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Greene, Hawkins and Hancock counties in the first representative district. The counties of Washington, Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Greene composed the first senatorial district.
35. Public Acts of 1901, Chapter 109, divided the state into ten congressional districts for the purpose of electing electors to the United States Congress. The counties of Washington, Sullivan, Johnson, Carter, Unicoi, Greene, Hawkins, Hancock, Claiborne, Grainger, Cocke and Sevier composed the first congressional district.
36. Public Acts of 1901, Chapter 122, apportioned the counties of the state into senatorial and representative districts. The counties of Washington, Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Greene composed the first senatorial district. Washington County elected one representative and also jointly elected one representative with Greene and Unicoi County in the third representative district.
37. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 537, fixed the compensation of election officials and registers of voters in Washington County at $3.00 per day.
38. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 109, regulated the hours of opening the polls to all general elections at 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
39. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 298, fixed the pay of election officials in Washington County at $7.00 per day out of the general county fund.