NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennesseans are turning out early in big numbers for the Nov. 3 general election, with 264,294 people casting early or absentee ballots through the first three days of early voting, according to state election data.
That count, through Friday, Oct. 16, is more than double the 123,063 votes cast at the same point before the August 6 primary, which ended its full 14-day early period at 635,319.
The biggest jumps are in the two largest Democratic-leaning counties. Davidson County logged 28,070 early voters in the first three days, compared with just 1,813 at that point in 2022. Shelby County recorded 33,205, up 86 percent from 17,784 four years ago.
Both counties were carved up by the new congressional district lines approved in May, which split portions of Davidson and Shelby among several districts. Critics argue the maps weaken the clout of neighborhoods that have long leaned Democratic, and community groups in Nashville and Memphis have been urging residents to vote.
Where the statewide total ends up is still an open question. The 2022 governor race finished early voting with 882,310 votes, while 2018 reached 1,378,840. Should 2026 mirror the daily rhythm of 2022, the final tally would come in around 1.48 million; a 2018-style path points to roughly 1.05 million. Early pacing has proven to be a shaky predictor in past governor races, so those figures are a range, not a forecast.
In past cycles, Saturdays have been slower than weekdays, and the final Thursday of early voting has been the busiest single day.
Early voting runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. Voters can use any early voting site in their home county, not just their assigned precinct, and should bring a photo ID. Sites and hours are listed through the state GoVoteTN lookup.
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