NASHVILLE – In a state where voter turnout ranks consistently near the bottom, Tennesseans were on fire Wednesday during the first day of early voting in the 2018 midterm election, with numbers exceeding those in recent similar midterm elections.
According to Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office, 120,970 Tennesseans hit early voting sites or cast absentee ballots in the state’s 95 counties where they are choosing both a new governor and new senator in open contests for the first time since 2002.
First-day voting in the 2014 midterm election was 32,565, while in 2010, another midterm election, the tally was 43,580.
By comparison, 143,141 voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting during the 2016 presidential election.
Calling voter interest “extremely high” this year, State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said “Tennesseans crushed first day early voting numbers for a midterm. Early voting continues to be popular as a way to vote.”