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Elections - Historical Notes

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions

Districts - Reapportionment

The acts listed below have affected the civil districts in Scott County, but are no longer operative regarding elections. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 74, created a new and additional Sixth Civil District for Scott County. The area to be contained in the new 6th Civil District was described by metes and bounds in Section 2 of the Act, and further provided that within 60 days after passage of this Act the Election Commissioners would hold an election for two Justices of the Peace, one Constable, one member of the County Board of Education and one District Road Commissioner within the District and the precinct now established in the area, known as the "Station Camp Precinct," shall remain as is. This district shall remain until changed, or repealed, by the Legislature. This Act was repealed by the one below.
  2. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 215, specifically repeals Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 74, above, in its entirety, thus reducing the number of civil districts in Scott County back to five.
  3. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 658, again created a Sixth Civil District in Scott County which was new and describes the boundaries. Within 60 days the Election Commission shall hold an election for two Justices of the Peace, one Constable, and one member of the County Board of Education. The "Station Camp" voting precinct would remain as it was. Those elected shall assume their offices within ten days and the boundaries of this District cannot be changed except by the Legislature. This act was repealed by the one following.
  4. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 316, expressly repealed Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 658, above which created a new 6th Civil District for Scott County.
  5. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 91, created a new 6th Civil District for Scott County out of parts of the 4th and 5th Civil Districts, the area being described by metes and bounds. There would be an election to elect two Justices of the Peace, one Constable, and one School Board member. This Act was rejected and disapproved by the Quarterly County Court and never became an effective law.

Elections

The following is a listing of acts for Scott County which affected the elective process, but which have been superseded or repealed.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.

  1. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 90, provided that the polls for the election of the joint State Representative for the counties of Scott, Morgan, and Fentress would be compared at Jamestown in Fentress County on the first Monday next succeeding the day of the election.
  2. Acts of 1865, Chapter 34, divided the State into eight U.S. Congressional Districts shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War. The Second District was then made up of the counties of Claiborne, Union, Knox, Campbell, Scott, Morgan, Anderson, Blount, Monroe, Polk, McMinn, Bradley, and Roane.
  3. Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 7, Section 2, made it the duty of the Sheriff of Fentress, Scott, Morgan, and Cumberland counties to meet at Jamestown, in Fentress County, on the first Monday after the regular biennial elections in August so as to compare the vote for the two joint Representatives to the General Assembly. All conflicting laws were repealed.
  4. Acts of 1871, Chapter 146, apportioned Tennessee for the General Assembly according to the Federal Census for 1870. Union, Campbell, and Scott counties would elect one Representative jointly and the State was divided into 25 Senatorial Districts of which the Fifth Senatorial District was composed of the counties of Campbell, Morgan, Scott, Roane, Fentress, Overton, Putnam, White, and Cumberland.
  5. Acts of 1872 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 7, divided the State into nine U.S. Congressional Districts. The Second was made up of Sevier, Knox, Jefferson, Anderson, Campbell, Scott, Morgan, Fentress, Cumberland, White, Putnam, Overton, Jackson, Smith, Macon, and Clay counties.
  6. Acts of 1873, Chapter 27, again apportioned the State of Tennessee into U.S. Congressional Districts, this time to ten such Districts. Jefferson, Sevier, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Roane, Knox, Anderson, Campbell, Scott, Morgan, and Union counties were all assigned to the Second U.S. Congressional District thereunder.
  7. Acts of 1881 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 6, redistricted the State for the General Assembly, according to the new population figures for 1880. One Representative would be elected jointly by Scott, Fentress, and Pickett counties. The State now had 33 Senatorial Districts of which the Fourth was composed of Claiborne, Grainger, Union, Campbell, and Scott Counties.
  8. Acts of 1882 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 27, did the same thing for the ten U.S. Congressional Districts assigning Jefferson, Union, Sevier, Blount, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Anderson, Morgan, Campbell, and Scott Counties to the Second U. S. Congressional District.
  9. Acts of 1891 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 10, reapportioned the State according to the 1890 Census for the General Assembly. Anderson, Morgan, and Scott Counties would elect one State Representative between them and Scott, Fentress, Pickett, Overton, Clay, Jackson, and Putnam Counties composed the Tenth State Senatorial District.
  10. Acts of 1897, Chapter 216, detached Scott County from the Tenth State Senatorial District and attached it to the Third District. Morgan and Hancock Counties were also transferred into different Senatorial Districts by this Act.
  11. Acts of 1901, Chapter 109, established the 10 U. S. Congressional Districts. The Second consisted of Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Blount, Loudon, Roane, Scott, Anderson, Campbell, and Union Counties.
  12. Acts of 1901, Chapter 122, apportioned the total representation of the State in accordance with the 1900 census taking. The Third State Senatorial District was made up of Hancock, Grainger, Claiborne, Union, Campbell, and Scott counties. Scott, Campbell, and Union Counties would elect one Representative jointly.
  13. Acts of 1905, Chapter 463, amended Acts of 1901, Chapter 122, Item 11, above, by transferring Hawkins and Greene Counties in the First and Second Senatorial Districts so that the Third Senatorial District contained Hancock, Hawkins, Grainger, Claiborne, Union, Campbell, and Scott Counties. The Representative Districts were also changed by this law but these changes did not affect Scott County.
  14. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 211, stated that no registration of voters is required in Scott County as a prerequisite to vote in any State, County, Municipal, or any other election. The Dortch Ballot was retained for use in the county and the act specified that the Registrar would continue to initial the ballots.
  15. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 235, provided that no registration of voters shall be had in Scott County except in incorporated cities of more than 2500 population but elsewhere registration shall not be a prerequisite to vote in any National, State, County, City, or Civil District election.
  16. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 98, required that every voter in Scott County be registered at least 30 days prior to voting in any election.The Commissioners of Elections shall appoint two registrars for each voting precinct, furnish all the essential materials and forms at the county's expense and have the registration books open at least 60 days prior to any election. All the detached requisites to be permanently registered are set out in the act. At least ten days before the election, the Commissioners shall, upon application, furnish any candidate with a list of the registered voters, plus absentees, if the applicant pays ten cents per 100 names. The Act made it a misdemeanor for any person to give false information, fraudently use a registration card, or to attempt to vote on a card belonging to someone else, subject to fines of $50 to $500 or be confined in the jail or workhouse not to exceed ninety days.
  17. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 272, repealed Chapter 17, Private Acts of 1939, which required a referendum to be held before any bonds could be issued in Scott County for any purpose.
  18. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 399, set the compensation of the officers of elections in Scott County in all general, special, and primary elections at $4 per day, and the compensation of the Judges, Clerks, and Registrars of elections at $3 per day, all to be paid out of the general fund of the county.
  19. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 178, provided that in Scott County, quoting 1950 Federal Census figures, election officials shall be compensated for their services in holding the elections at the rate of $5 per day. This act was properly ratified by the Scott County Quarterly Court.
  20. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 37, directed the Scott County Election Commission to designate upon each person's voter registration card the fact of such voter's entitlement to vote in municipal elections. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1981, Chapter 176.