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Courthouse to close on election days

Another gift from 2020: With the possibility of numerous mail-in and absentee ballots in the fall, Registrar of Elections Mark Stephens said the Anderson County Courthouse will be closed Aug. 6 and Nov. 3.

County Commission approved the move at its June 15 meeting.

The courthouse will be open for employees — but will be closed to the public during those days because of concerns regarding security due to the number handwritten ballots expected.

With paper ballots in the courthouse there is a concern about “people wandering the halls” of the courthouse.

Commission learned that Stephens had received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security outlining those concerns.

Commissioner Theresa Scott questioned why the courthouse should be closed on those days when there is only one entrance open to the building and it’s manned by a Sheriff’s Department deputy.

The measure passed 11-4.