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In the first week of early voting for the upcoming 2018 mid-term elections turnout has now officially exceeded that of the 2014 mid-terms in Carter County.
When the early voting polls closed on Tuesday afternoon, a total of 4,603 Carter County residents had cast their ballots, and there is still more than a week to go in the early voting period. In 2014, 4,196 Carter Countians took part in early voting.
Typically, when comparing voting turnout numbers, Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris recommends comparing similar elections as participation rates vary based on what offices are on the ballot. For example, Harris recommends comparing turnout numbers for mid-term elections against other mid-term election years. However, with the volume of voters lining up to cast their votes so far during this election cycle, the turnout numbers could be as high this year as they are during Presidential elections, which traditionally have the highest participation rate.
The record for early voting turnout was set in 2016 during the Presidential election when 11,547 residents took advantage of the opportunity to cast their ballots early.
There are still eight days left for early voting for the 2018 mid-terms. Early voting will continue through Thursday, Nov. 1. Polls are open from 9 a.m .until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until Noon on Saturdays during the early voting period. Election day will be Tuesday, Nov. 6 and precinct polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on that day.
Early Voting is held at the Carter County Election Commission Office, located at 116 Holston Avenue, across from the Carter County Health Department. Overflow parking for early voting is in the First Baptist Church parking lot located on the corner of Holston Avenue and East G Street.
Carter County voters are casting ballots in a variety of federal, state, and local municipal elections. To see a full copy of the sample ballot click here: Nov. 6 2018 Sample Ballot
For more information on Early Voting, please contact the Carter County Election Commission at 423-542-1822.