Voters can start picking up ballots for the Aug. 5 state primary and county general election on July 16, when early voting kicks off.
Charlotte Mullis-Morgan, the Hamilton County Elections administrator, said early voting runs through July 31, and the number of voters usually increases compared with the county primary elections held earlier this year.
In early voting in the May 4 county primary this year, 4,411 of the county's 207,000 registered voters participated. In the 2006 May county primary, 6,157 voters participated in early voting while 16,799 voters participated in early voting for the county general and state primary election in August.
"People have just gotten to the point where they don't want to vote in the (county) primary," Mrs. Mullis-Morgan said.
The state primary is another matter, according to two political science professors. Richard Wilson of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Bruce Oppenheimer of Vanderbilt University said hotly contested Republican primaries in the 3rd Congressional District and governor's race could hurt Democratic candidates in the county general election on Aug. 5.
The Republican primary in the 3rd District might bring out more GOP voters overall who would vote for the Republican candidates in the county races, they said.
Dr. Oppenheimer said the same theory might hold true in early voting.
Early voting(July 16-July 31)* Hamilton County Election Commission Office, 700 River Terminal RoadHours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday* Brainerd Recreation Center, 1010 N. Moore RoadHours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday* Northgate Mall, next to the Science Education Theater10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-SaturdaySource: Hamilton County Election Commission
"People who can't vote on Aug. 5 may vote during early voting," Dr. Oppenheimer said. "You might get somewhat higher turnout than you would otherwise get. But there's greater impetus because of the Republican gubernatorial primary for Republicans to turn out."
Dr. Wilson said well-organized campaigns will benefit the most from early voting turnout.
"They're able to identify their supporters and get them to the polls before Election Day," Dr. Wilson said.
Jeff Brown, chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and a candidate for register of deeds against Republican incumbent Pam Hurst, said he's aware of the possibility of depressed Democratic turnout.
But there are also a number of voters who cross party lines in local races, he said.
"It just means we have to work harder," Mr. Brown said, noting the party will be going door to door over the next few weeks to rally Democratic voters.
Chip Forrester, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, argued the reverse. He said a divisive Republican primary fight could turn voters off.
"It's really going to expose a fundamental division within the party," Mr. Forrester said. "All politics is local, and that's especially true in county general elections and most people know the candidates."
Mrs. Mullis-Morgan said the Elections Commission will hire 15 to 17 temporary workers to assist in early voting. All early voting locations will be open Monday through Saturday, she said.