More than twice as many Republicans as Democrats cast ballots during early voting in Anderson County this year, election officials said Monday.

Early voting ended Saturday, and as of Monday afternoon, the Anderson County Election Commission had counted a total of 6,599 votes.

Republicans cast 4,371 of those votes and Democrats 1,904, said Stephanie Gamble, Anderson County Election Commission deputy administrator.

Early voting in Anderson County was down this year, compared to two years ago. In the early voting period before the August 2010 election, 7,097 votes were cast, Gamble said.

Early voting was down despite three special elections this year, one for Anderson County mayor, a second for Anderson County Commission District 8, and a third for Oak Ridge City Council.

Election officials said they don’t know why fewer people voted this year.

Gamble said there still about 75 absentee ballots that could be mailed in before the Aug. 2 election this year, meaning the final early voting total could be slightly higher that what was reported Monday.

Absentee ballots are available to anyone who is out of the county on election day or during early voting, is 60 years old or older, is a truck driver with a commercial driver’s license, is a member of the military or overseas, or is sick, hospitalized, or handicapped.