Tennessee early voting jumps 45% from 2022 ahead of midterms
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More than 1.28 million Tennesseans cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections, a significant increase over 2022 but still short of the early-voting total in 2018.
Why it matters: The numbers provide a snapshot of voter participation before Tennesseans select their next governor and weigh in on a consequential battle for control of Congress.
By the numbers: The latest figures from the Tennessee Secretary of State, following the end of the early voting period Thursday, showed 1,280,642 early and absentee voters statewide.
- That's about 45% more than in 2022, when roughly 882,000 Tennesseans voted before Election Day.
- But it's about 7% below 2018, when nearly 1.38 million voted early or absentee.
State of play: Several factors could be driving turnout this year, including the open governor's race and newly redrawn congressional districts. Multiple districts also feature open races with no incumbents.
Zoom in: Davidson County reported 148,556 early and absentee voters this year, up 57% from 2022 but down about 8% from 2018.
Of note: Several counties surrounding Nashville exceeded their 2018 early-voting totals.
- Sumner County: 37,491 voters, up 4.4%.
- Rutherford County: 67,625, up 2.5%.
- Wilson County: 36,631, up 2.5%.
- Maury County: 19,870, up 1.2%.
Zoom out: Shelby County led the state with 183,896 early and absentee voters, up 52% from 2022 and just 2.5% below 2018.
Catch up quick: Memphis was at the center of Tennessee's contentious congressional redistricting this year.
- Republican lawmakers redrew the map in May, dismantling the state's lone majority-Black congressional district in Memphis and dividing Shelby County among three districts — the 5th, 8th and 9th.
- Nashville's congressional boundaries were reshuffled, too. Davidson County remains split three ways, but its voters are now divided among Districts 4, 6 and 7, rather than 5, 6 and 7.
Between the lines: Republicans designed the new map to give their party an advantage in all nine congressional districts, but the Democrat establishment is investing in two of the newly drawn congressional races.
- The national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee designated Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder in District 5 and Memphis state Rep. Justin Pearson in District 9 for its "Red to Blue" program, which provides organizational and fundraising support.
Follow the money: Republican and Democratic candidates across Shelby County's three congressional districts raised a combined $4.6 million during the third quarter, according to the Tennessee Lookout.
Reality check: Early-voting totals don't reveal which candidates are benefiting from increased participation — or how many additional Tennesseans will vote Tuesday.
What's next: Polls will open 7am-7pm Tuesday for Election Day.