Thursday is the last day for early voting in Tennessee
Thursday is the last day for early voting for the Nov. 8 general election. The deadline comes as election officials scrambled to fix software mistakes that led dozens of Nashville voters to cast ballots in the wrong districts.
Through the first 12 days of early voting, 688,000 people had cast ballots. That’s up 52% over the same point in the last gubernatorial re-election year in 2014. But turnout is down 41% compared with 2018, which featured an open governor’s race and a competitive U.S. Senate contest.
Here’s a release from the Secretary of State’s office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, is the last day for Tennesseans of early voting for the Nov. 8 State and Federal General election.
“Time is running out for Tennesseans planning to vote early in the Nov. 8 election,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I urge voters to take advantage of the last days of early voting to make their voices heard.”
Tennesseans can find early voting and Election Day hours, polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the Secretary of State’s GoVoteTN.gov website or GoVoteTN app. Download the GoVoteTN app for free in the App Store or Google Play.
Voters need to bring valid photo identification to the polls during early voting or on Election Day. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable even if expired. A student ID or out-of-state driver’s license is not acceptable. For more information about what types of IDs are permitted, visit GoVoteTN.gov.
For election information voters can trust from the Secretary of State, visit GoVoteTN.gov and the GoVoteTN app, call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959 or follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate.
Early voting gets underway Wednesday
Early voting gets underway today.
Here’s a release from the Secretary of State’s Office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Starting today, Tennessee voters can cast their ballot early for the Nov. 8 State and Federal General Election.
Early voting runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Nov. 3. and offers the convenience and flexibility of evening hours and multiple polling locations in some counties. Tennessee voters can find their polling hours, locations and more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.gov. The GoVoteTN app is free in the App Store or Google Play.
“Every year, more Tennesseans are taking advantage of the convenience and flexibility of our generous early voting period,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I encourage you to make your voice heard.”
Tennessee voters need to bring valid photo identification to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable even if expired. A student ID or out-of-state driver’s license is not acceptable. For more information about what types of IDs are permitted, visit GoVoteTN.gov.
“With early voting, many Tennesseans can choose the time and location to cast their ballot,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. “And by casting your ballot early, you can avoid election day crowds and help reduce wait times for yourself and other voters.”
The Secretary of State’s office is Tennessee’s trusted source for accurate election information. For the latest information about the Nov. 8 election, follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate.
For more information about early voting, visit GoVoteTN.gov or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.
Early voting down 26% in GOP primaries compared with last gubernatorial election
Republican early voting was down 26% compared with the last gubernatorial election cycle in 2018, according to data compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office.
The difference between the current election and four years ago is that there is no competitive GOP primary going on at the top of the ticket, as Gov. Bill Lee is unopposed for the the nomination to second term. But the race for the open 5th Congressional District doesn’t seem to be generating much enthusiasm either, as GOP voting in the six counties the seat is located in has been down 31%:
- Davidson*: 10,724 votes (-51%)
- Lewis: 1,241 votes (-13%)
- Marshall: 2,560 votes (-7%)
- Maury: 5,962 votes (-16%)
- Williamson*: 14,369 votes (-3%)
- Wilson*: 6,881 votes (-46%).
(*Note the 5th district includes about 75% of the population of Wilson, 65% of Williamson, and 50% of Davidson).
Here are the early voting totals:
| County | 2022 | 2018 | Change |
| Anderson | 3,663 | 5,347 | -31% |
| Bedford | 1,893 | 3,558 | -47% |
| Benton | 1,507 | 1,752 | -14% |
| Bledsoe | 429 | 658 | -35% |
| Blount | 6,174 | 7,929 | -22% |
| Bradley | 5,186 | 8,227 | -37% |
| Campbell | 2,899 | 3,618 | -20% |
| Cannon | 1,117 | 1,240 | -10% |
| Carroll | 1,785 | 2,224 | -20% |
| Carter | 2,588 | 4,381 | -41% |
| Cheatham | 2,101 | 2,618 | -20% |
| Chester | 1,446 | 1,542 | -6% |
| Claiborne | 2,974 | 3,366 | -12% |
| Clay | 772 | 764 | 1% |
| Cocke | 3,621 | 3,692 | -2% |
| Coffee | 3,765 | 4,224 | -11% |
| Crockett | 380 | 953 | -60% |
| Cumberland | 4,078 | 5,292 | -23% |
| Davidson | 10,724 | 21,722 | -51% |
| Decatur | 1,363 | 1,308 | 4% |
| DeKalb | 1,934 | 1,296 | 49% |
| Dickson | 2,654 | 2,745 | -3% |
| Dyer | 2,511 | 2,867 | -12% |
| Fayette | 1,724 | 3,494 | -51% |
| Fentress | 2,245 | 2,692 | -17% |
| Franklin | 3,127 | 2,840 | 10% |
| Gibson | 2,109 | 3,003 | -30% |
| Giles | 2,045 | 2,681 | -24% |
| Grainger | 703 | 1,297 | -46% |
| Greene | 1,698 | 4,905 | -65% |
| Grundy | 898 | 681 | 32% |
| Hamblen | 2,077 | 3,341 | -38% |
| Hamilton | 10,993 | 11,913 | -8% |
| Hancock | 275 | 459 | -40% |
| Hardeman | 1,047 | 1,369 | -24% |
| Hardin | 1,338 | 2,592 | -48% |
| Hawkins | 2,000 | 3,535 | -43% |
| Haywood | 921 | 1,125 | -18% |
| Henderson | 1,474 | 2,862 | -48% |
| Henry | 1,857 | 3,042 | -39% |
| Hickman | 2,034 | 1,859 | 9% |
| Houston | 898 | 928 | -3% |
| Humphreys | 1,199 | 1,265 | -5% |
| Jackson | 896 | 820 | 9% |
| Jefferson | 1,663 | 3,860 | -57% |
| Johnson | 2,085 | 2,511 | -17% |
| Knox | 19,465 | 32,108 | -39% |
| Lake | 549 | 639 | -14% |
| Lauderdale | 1,723 | 1,103 | 56% |
| Lawrence | 3,342 | 2,673 | 25% |
| Lewis | 1,241 | 1,425 | -13% |
| Lincoln | 1,982 | 1,795 | 10% |
| Loudon | 4,208 | 6,851 | -39% |
| Macon | 2,399 | 3,548 | -32% |
| Madison | 4,153 | 5,778 | -28% |
| Marion | 1,010 | 1,223 | -17% |
| Marshall | 2,560 | 2,753 | -7% |
| Maury | 5,962 | 7,113 | -16% |
| McMinn | 2,025 | 3,582 | -43% |
| McNairy | 1,421 | 1,898 | -25% |
| Meigs | 742 | 1,031 | -28% |
| Monroe | 2,573 | 4,252 | -39% |
| Montgomery | 5,734 | 6,205 | -8% |
| Moore | 907 | 1,046 | -13% |
| Morgan | 1,223 | 1,771 | -31% |
| Obion | 2,189 | 3,021 | -28% |
| Overton | 1,622 | 1,460 | 11% |
| Perry | 638 | 1,030 | -38% |
| Pickett | 489 | 533 | -8% |
| Polk | 1,037 | 1,015 | 2% |
| Putnam | 3,230 | 4,883 | -34% |
| Rhea | 2,713 | 2,910 | -7% |
| Roane | 4,613 | 5,103 | -10% |
| Robertson | 2,952 | 4,680 | -37% |
| Rutherford | 10,583 | 14,531 | -27% |
| Scott | 2,340 | 2,806 | -17% |
| Sequatchie | 943 | 1,855 | -49% |
| Sevier | 1,540 | 4,538 | -66% |
| Shelby | 31,258 | 33,089 | -6% |
| Smith | 1,813 | 2,297 | -21% |
| Stewart | 1,694 | 1,715 | -1% |
| Sullivan | 3,321 | 10,312 | -68% |
| Sumner | 4,742 | 7,993 | -41% |
| Tipton | 2,852 | 3,905 | -27% |
| Trousdale | 909 | 851 | 7% |
| Unicoi | 681 | 1,574 | -57% |
| Union | 870 | 1,310 | -34% |
| Van Buren | 723 | 405 | 79% |
| Warren | 3,771 | 3,363 | 12% |
| Washington | 4,729 | 7,116 | -34% |
| Wayne | 1,944 | 1,813 | 7% |
| Weakley | 2,184 | 2,756 | -21% |
| White | 1,956 | 2,456 | -20% |
| Williamson | 14,369 | 14,861 | -3% |
| Wilson | 6,881 | 12,739 | -46% |
| Cumulative | 293,675 | 398,111 | -26% |
Early voting down so far from last two gubernatorial cycles
Early voting through the first six days of the period was down 23% compared with the last gubernatorial election cycle in 2018 and 22% from 2014. Republican turnout has been 24% less than four years ago, when Gov. Bill Lee was first nominated for governor in a competitive primary. Democratic early voting is down 30% over 2018.
Shelby County has seen the biggest increase in early voting — more than 5,000 more than in 2018 — amid a competitive race for district attorney general between incumbent Amy Weirich and Democratic challenger Steve Mulroy.
Republican voting has been down by 29% in the new 5th Congressional District, which is made up of parts of Davidson (-28%), Williamson (-21%), and Wilson (-52%), and all of Lewis (-16%), Marshall (-15%), and Maury (-25%) counties. But voting is up 2% compared with 2014.
Here’s the full breakdown from the Secretary of State’s office:
| County | 2022 | Change from 2018 | Change from 2014 |
| Anderson | 2,135 | -30% | -42% |
| Bedford | 949 | -56% | -62% |
| Benton | 1,290 | -2% | -20% |
| Bledsoe | 207 | -30% | -61% |
| Blount | 3,230 | -22% | 24% |
| Bradley | 1,980 | -46% | -45% |
| Campbell | 1,798 | -18% | -11% |
| Cannon | 592 | -18% | -29% |
| Carroll | 1,006 | -29% | -23% |
| Carter | 1,256 | -43% | -55% |
| Cheatham | 1,146 | 7% | -39% |
| Chester | 890 | 7% | -24% |
| Claiborne | 1,724 | -13% | -7% |
| Clay | 772 | 27% | 9% |
| Cocke | 1,863 | 14% | 17% |
| Coffee | 2,289 | -19% | -7% |
| Crockett | 241 | -63% | -78% |
| Cumberland | 2,080 | -21% | -29% |
| Davidson | 6,297 | -30% | 176% |
| Decatur | 969 | -5% | -7% |
| DeKalb | 1,108 | 20% | 6% |
| Dickson | 1,446 | -8% | -33% |
| Dyer | 1,439 | -4% | -32% |
| Fayette | 1,137 | -26% | -40% |
| Fentress | 1,380 | -18% | -17% |
| Franklin | 1,895 | 3% | 7% |
| Gibson | 1,096 | -42% | -24% |
| Giles | 1,309 | -28% | -12% |
| Grainger | 307 | -47% | -47% |
| Greene | 862 | -65% | -67% |
| Grundy | 634 | 25% | -31% |
| Hamblen | 1,101 | -28% | -6% |
| Hamilton | 6,380 | -23% | -29% |
| Hancock | 191 | -20% | -64% |
| Hardeman | 1,343 | -7% | 8% |
| Hardin | 708 | -53% | -42% |
| Hawkins | 875 | -49% | -49% |
| Haywood | 863 | -31% | -27% |
| Henderson | 604 | -57% | 5% |
| Henry | 1,232 | -28% | -28% |
| Hickman | 1,145 | -4% | -22% |
| Houston | 819 | 9% | -6% |
| Humphreys | 966 | 4% | -34% |
| Jackson | 587 | -11% | -8% |
| Jefferson | 766 | -55% | -39% |
| Johnson | 1,094 | -27% | -35% |
| Knox | 11,091 | -29% | -21% |
| Lake | 553 | -5% | -21% |
| Lauderdale | 1,651 | 54% | -5% |
| Lawrence | 2,105 | 47% | 18% |
| Lewis | 678 | -28% | -37% |
| Lincoln | 1,241 | 29% | -26% |
| Loudon | 2,585 | -35% | 17% |
| Macon | 1,803 | -25% | -5% |
| Madison | 2,730 | -31% | -51% |
| Marion | 683 | -14% | -24% |
| Marshall | 1,189 | -16% | -41% |
| Maury | 2,769 | -35% | -38% |
| McMinn | 914 | -48% | -55% |
| McNairy | 858 | -37% | -44% |
| Meigs | 435 | -33% | -43% |
| Monroe | 1,433 | -48% | -48% |
| Montgomery | 3,912 | -6% | -27% |
| Moore | 471 | -24% | 29% |
| Morgan | 676 | -37% | -49% |
| Obion | 1,287 | -35% | -19% |
| Overton | 1,165 | 6% | -19% |
| Perry | 449 | -28% | -13% |
| Pickett | 366 | -2% | -48% |
| Polk | 782 | 20% | -41% |
| Putnam | 1,898 | -38% | -48% |
| Rhea | 1,628 | -24% | -22% |
| Roane | 2,328 | -21% | -26% |
| Robertson | 1,646 | -39% | -30% |
| Rutherford | 5,656 | -32% | -21% |
| Scott | 1,696 | -11% | -3% |
| Sequatchie | 504 | -63% | -43% |
| Sevier | 751 | -68% | -51% |
| Shelby | 28,154 | 22% | 3% |
| Smith | 977 | -26% | -32% |
| Stewart | 1,251 | -5% | -16% |
| Sullivan | 1,477 | -72% | -74% |
| Sumner | 2,558 | -38% | -12% |
| Tipton | 1,330 | -32% | -38% |
| Trousdale | 703 | -9% | -18% |
| Unicoi | 348 | -53% | -58% |
| Union | 471 | -40% | -34% |
| Van Buren | 507 | 78% | 39% |
| Warren | 2,307 | -15% | 18% |
| Washington | 2,203 | -35% | -32% |
| Wayne | 975 | -8% | -18% |
| Weakley | 1,242 | -33% | -35% |
| White | 977 | -31% | -29% |
| Williamson | 3,907 | -28% | 47% |
| Wilson | 3,186 | -55% | -35% |
| Cumulative | 174,507 | -23% | -22% |
Thursday is last day to vote early
The early voting period for the Nov. 3 election ends on Thursday following what has been a record turnout.
In-person and absentee voting through the first 12 days had already exceeded the total turnout during the entire early voting of the last presidential election in 2016 period by 16%.
Only five counties had seen decreases with two days of results left to report: Haywood (-12%), Carter (-11%), Franklin (-8%), Madison (-4%), and Knox (-1%).
The biggest increases in early and absentee balloting have occured in Shelby (+44,914), Davidson (+40,278), Rutherford (+25,177), Williamson (+25,177), and Hamilton (13,573).
Here is the statewide breakdown:
| County | 2020 through 12 Days | Compared with all of 2016 |
| Anderson | 23,705 | 10% |
| Bedford | 12,472 | 20% |
| Benton | 4,918 | 10% |
| Bledsoe | 2,184 | 39% |
| Blount | 43,462 | 26% |
| Bradley | 31,975 | 14% |
| Campbell | 7,361 | 3% |
| Cannon | 3,356 | 22% |
| Carroll | 7,033 | 25% |
| Carter | 10,295 | -11% |
| Cheatham | 14,458 | 28% |
| Chester | 4,772 | 12% |
| Claiborne | 7,832 | 17% |
| Clay | 2,061 | 28% |
| Cocke | 9,072 | 29% |
| Coffee | 14,689 | 15% |
| Crockett | 3,715 | 17% |
| Cumberland | 20,558 | 15% |
| Davidson | 218,787 | 23% |
| Decatur | 3,308 | 17% |
| DeKalb | 4,271 | 9% |
| Dickson | 13,835 | 21% |
| Dyer | 9,750 | 10% |
| Fayette | 13,814 | 6% |
| Fentress | 5,543 | 12% |
| Franklin | 8,922 | -8% |
| Gibson | 12,737 | 22% |
| Giles | 7,408 | 8% |
| Grainger | 5,570 | 21% |
| Greene | 12,872 | 12% |
| Grundy | 2,969 | 23% |
| Hamblen | 13,855 | 4% |
| Hamilton | 88,324 | 18% |
| Hancock | 1,200 | 22% |
| Hardeman | 6,096 | 7% |
| Hardin | 6,636 | 13% |
| Hawkins | 14,092 | 8% |
| Haywood | 4,051 | -12% |
| Henderson | 7,452 | 10% |
| Henry | 9,300 | 14% |
| Hickman | 6,098 | 31% |
| Houston | 2,326 | 15% |
| Humphreys | 5,401 | 9% |
| Jackson | 2,738 | 33% |
| Jefferson | 15,445 | 23% |
| Johnson | 4,752 | 13% |
| Knox | 140,685 | -1% |
| Lake | 1,345 | 12% |
| Lauderdale | 5,784 | 13% |
| Lawrence | 10,030 | 22% |
| Lewis | 3,550 | 21% |
| Lincoln | 8,042 | 6% |
| Loudon | 21,917 | 16% |
| Macon | 6,284 | 19% |
| Madison | 24,788 | -4% |
| Marion | 6,687 | 26% |
| Marshall | 9,961 | 35% |
| Maury | 26,191 | 8% |
| McMinn | 13,810 | 14% |
| McNairy | 6,300 | 11% |
| Meigs | 3,332 | 24% |
| Monroe | 13,278 | 20% |
| Montgomery | 42,132 | 14% |
| Moore | 2,319 | 26% |
| Morgan | 4,370 | 19% |
| Obion | 8,398 | 6% |
| Overton | 6,168 | 23% |
| Perry | 1,923 | 36% |
| Pickett | 1,554 | 13% |
| Polk | 4,693 | 40% |
| Putnam | 18,338 | 3% |
| Rhea | 8,380 | 23% |
| Roane | 16,694 | 12% |
| Robertson | 19,190 | 17% |
| Rutherford | 104,593 | 32% |
| Scott | 5,670 | 35% |
| Sequatchie | 4,272 | 29% |
| Sevier | 23,269 | 12% |
| Shelby | 288,560 | 18% |
| Smith | 5,493 | 15% |
| Stewart | 4,045 | 14% |
| Sullivan | 46,645 | 2% |
| Sumner | 55,595 | 21% |
| Tipton | 18,732 | 8% |
| Trousdale | 2,584 | 18% |
| Unicoi | 5,472 | 13% |
| Union | 3,450 | 33% |
| Van Buren | 1,576 | 21% |
| Warren | 8,960 | 3% |
| Washington | 35,954 | 16% |
| Wayne | 3,466 | 12% |
| Weakley | 9,039 | 18% |
| White | 6,799 | 10% |
| Williamson | 107,075 | 28% |
| Wilson | 54,038 | 28% |
| TOTAL | 1,962,900 | 16% |
Early voting passes 1M mark in Tennessee
More than 1 million Tennesseans have cast ballots through the first six days of early early voting. Those figures are up 47% compared with the same period in 2016.
Here’s the details from Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Through the sixth day of early voting in Tennessee, 1,085,384 voters have cast their ballot for the Nov. 3 presidential election.
“The massive turnout shows Tennesseans’ confidence in the safety precautions taken by county election commissions,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “As I visit early voting sites across the state, I continue to see elections officials doing a great job helping voters cast a ballot in a smooth and efficient process.”
Statewide, there is nearly a 47 percent increase of in-person and absentee by-mail voters compared to 2016, with each county reporting higher numbers than ever before.
“At this rate, we are on pace to break the state’s previous early voting turnout record, set during the last presidential election,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins.
Early voting for the State and Federal General election runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Oct. 29. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Tennessee voters can find their early voting and Election Day hours, polling locations and more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.com. The GoVoteTN app is free to download in the App Store or Google Play.
While visiting the polls, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintaining a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters.
Voters planning to vote early or on Election Day will need to bring valid photo identification to the polls. A Tennessee driver license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable. More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found on sos.tn.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.
Tennessee state law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary surrounding each entrance to remain campaign-free zones. This includes the display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot in these areas. Voters wearing campaign-related clothing or paraphernalia will not be allowed within the 100-foot boundary.
For early voting turnout updates, follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate.
For more information about early voting in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.
Early voting turnout well ahead of 2016 so far
Here is a look at turnout in early voting in Tennessee by our favorite political mapmaker Don Johnson.
Shelby County has seen one of the biggest increases compared with four years ago, while the suburban counties around Nashville have been among those with the largest percentage of their registered voters casting their ballots early.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office says 249,302 more voters have cast early ballots so far than in 2016, a 52% increase.
Early voting down 8% compared with 2018 primary
Early voting was down 8% compared with Tennessee’s 2018 primary election featuring a heated governor’s race and another open U.S. Senate seat.
Republican voting was down 11%, while Democratic turnout was up 2%. GOP voters still showed up in far greater numbers than Democrats, 354,600 to 215,790.
Only 21 counties saw increases in Republican early voting, led by a 63% growth in Washington County in the heart of the 1st Congressional District, where 16 Republicans are vying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-Johnson City). Other counties in the district posing GOP gains included Unicoi (21%), Sullivan (14%), Sevier (11%), and Grainger (8%). Turnout decreased in the district’s remaining counties: Jefferson (-9%), Hamblen (-13%), Greene (-21%), Johnson (-23%), Hancock (-28%), and Cocke (-30%).
Democratic turnout saw its biggest boost in Davidson County, where early voting was up 53% compared with two years ago. Knox County also saw a Democratic gain of 29%, while GOP turnout dropped 10%. In Hamilton County, Democrats saw a 24% increase but Republican turnout also grew 19%.
In Shelby County, which usually accounts for the state’s largest turnout for both parties, Democratic early voting was down 4%, while GOP balloting cratered by 25%.
The full early voting list by county compared with the 2018 primary follows below.
GOP early voting lags behind 2018, while Nashville surge boosts Democrats’ totals
(Graphic credit: Don Johnson)
Republican turnout has been down 10% compared with the first 13 days of early voting in 2018, while Democratic turnout has been up 3%. Overall turnout has been down 7%.
(This post has been updated to reflect turnout figures for the first 13 of 14 days of early voting.)
Early voting for the Aug. 6 primary runs through Saturday.
The nominations for the open U.S. Senate race in 2018 were settled by the time the primary rolled around, but that year featured a rough-and-tumble primary for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. This year’s campaign season has been dominated by a bitter GOP contest for yet another U.S. Senate vacancy between former Ambassador Bill Hagerty and Vanderbilt surgeon Manny Sethi.
Despite the comparative lag, Republicans have still turned out in far higher numbers than Democrats across the state, 330,580 to 194,368.
The biggest increase in GOP early voting has been a 64% jump in Washington County, which is in the heart of the 16-way 1st District primary to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-Johnson City). It’s also home to heated primary challenges of state Reps. Matthew Hill and Micah Van Huss (both R-Jonesborough). GOP voting has been down in 72 of 95 counties.
The biggest increase in early voting among Democrats has occurred in Nashville, where turnout has been 61% higher than it was through the same period two years ago. This year’s primary features Keeda Haynes’ insurgent campaign against longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville) and a spirited contest for the Democratic nomination to challenge state Sen. Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville).
See your county’s turnout compared with the first 13 of 14 days of early voting in 2018 below.
Absentee voting well ahead of 2016 primary, nearing level of last presidential election
Secretary of State Tre Hargett speaks with Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) before Gov. Bill Haslam’s final State of the State address on Jan. 29, 2018 in Nashville. (Photo credit: Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)
Requests for absentee ballots are well ahead of the number cast in the August 2016 primary and are already coming close to matching the levels of that year’s November presidential election, according to data gathered by The Tennessean‘s Joel Ebert and Carmel Kookogey.
The Secretary of State’s office said it doesn’t keep track of absentee ballot requests, referring the newspaper to local election commissions. The newspaper contacted officials in all 95 counties. Eighty provided information on how many mail-in ballots had been requested as of last week, nine refused to release data, and six did not respond.
A judge last month ordered the state to allow anyone who fears infection by the coronavirus to cast absentee ballots. The state is appealing that ruling, but it’s unlikely the Supreme Court will decide the issue before the Aug. 6 primary.
About 57,000 absentee ballots had been requested as of last week. That compares with about about 12,000 for the August 2016 primary and 64,000 for that year’s general election.
A look at the percentage difference between absentee ballot requests this year and the number cast in August and November 2016 follows after the jump.
