NASHVILLE – Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting when it starts on Friday for the Aug. 5 county general and state primary elections.
“Early voting gives individuals the peace of mind of not worrying about being rushed on Election Day to get to the polls,” Secretary Hargett said in a news release. “Many people enjoy the convenience and flexibility of early voting because it allows them to work voting into their busy schedules.”
State Elections Coordinator Mark Goins said early voting is “convenient and has become very popular. In November 2008, about 58 percent of the people who voted in Tennessee took advantage of early voting.”
He previously estimated between 45 percent to 50 percent of voters may opt to cast ballots early this year.
Tennessee’s 95 counties have early voting polling stations at their local election commission offices. Some, such as Hamilton County, offer early voting at satellite locations.
Early voting ends Saturday, July 31.