400,000 early ballots cast

NASHVILLE — Tennesseans through Saturday cast 400,000 ballots during the state’s first four days of early voting in the Nov. 6 election with polls scheduled to resume operations this morning in all 95 counties.

According to the Secretary of State’s website, 399,589 voters had cast early and absentee ballots in the midterm election.

Through Friday, the pace continued approaching that of the 2016 presidential election with 346,130 ballots cast during the first three days this year compared to 405,030 two years ago in the contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, according to figures provided by State Election Coordinator Mark Goins.

That represents a 14.54-percent decrease from 2016.

But Tennessee voters are blowing the 2014 midterm’s first-three-days pace out of the water. In 2014, 92,515 had voted which voters now have exceeded by 253,615 votes or 274.13 percent, according to Goins’ figures.

By the end of business on Saturday, 20,036 Hamilton County voters already had cast early or absentee ballots. Nearby Bradley Countians had cast 6,968 ballots.

This year’s election includes the nationally high profile contest between Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen to replace retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Chattanooga.

There’s also an open race between Republican businessman Bill Lee and Democratic former Nashville mayor Karl Dean to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Bill Haslam.

Both races represent Democrats’ first serious effort to take top posts in years.

Early voting continues through Nov. 1.