Early Voting Gets Off To Good Start

Early voting began on Wednesday, and turnout has been strong the first couple days, with over 200 people voting both days. Cocke County Administer Of Elections, Josh Blanchard, says that so far 424 voters have come through the doors of the early voting site in the Western Plaza Shopping Center. Blanchard says that according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, Cocke County had the 5th highest voter turnout of the state’s 95 counites on Wednesday, the first day for early voting. The Secretary of State’s office says that 1.02% of the county’s registered voters cast their ballots early on Wednesday. That’s only behind Moore, Houston, Rhea and Unicoi counties for the highest percentage of registered voters taking advantage of the first day of early voting.

The elections office in Cocke County says they have also received 48 absentee ballots so far, giving them a total of 472 early and absentee ballots for the first two days of early voting.

Early voting continues each weekday from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 9am-noon through February 27. You need to have your photo ID with you in order to vote.

The early voting site will be closed on Monday, February 19 in observance of Presidents Day.