Nashville turnout near presidential level on first day of early voting in midterms

Joey Garrison | The Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption How to vote in Tennessee for the general election Election day is November 6th, 2018

Turnout in Nashville on the first day of early voting Wednesday in this year's midterm election was high, falling only a couple of thousand voters off the pace set during the 2016 presidential election in Davidson County.

In all, 10,249 people voted Wednesday in the county.

That's compared to 12,300 people who voted on the first day of early voting in Nashville during the 2016 presidential election.

"It was a very good turnout, a little short of the 2016 presidential," county elections administrator Jeff Roberts said.

Typically presidential races draw considerably more voters than midterm elections.

Only 557 people voted on the first day of early voting during the the 2014 midterm election. But that's a poor comparison because early voting was limited to only one voting location on the first day that year.

This year early voting opened Wednesday at each of Nashville's 11 satellite locations.

In Tennessee's U.S. Senate race, Republican Marsha Blackburn, a conservative congressman from Williamson County, is taking on Democrat Phil Bredesen, former governor of Tennessee. The winner will replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee.

In the race to replace term-limited Gov. Bill Haslam, the election is between Democrat Karl Dean, former Nashville mayor, and Republican businessman Bill Lee.

Each is an open seat in which Tennessee Democrats are fielding viable contenders for the first time in multiple election cycles. Both Bredesen and Dean are from Nashville.

Locally, Nashvillians are voting on a referendum to amend the Metro Charter by creating a new community oversight panel that would review actions of police.

At first blush, the high turnout in the Democratic stronghold of Davidson County is a good sign for Democrats. But the Tennessean is still awaiting turnout figures for the state as a whole, which is expected to be high a well.

The pace could also slow down before early voting ends Nov 1. The election is Nov. 6.

TENNESSEE SENATE RACE: Blackburn, Bredesen rally bases on first day of early voting in Tennessee

SENATE RACE POLL: Vanderbilt Oct. 18 poll finds Bredesen with narrow edge over Blackburn

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