Early voting shattering records; ends tonight on The Murfreesboro Post

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Early voting shattering records; ends tonight

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 1:36 pm

Only two other counties have had more early voters than Rutherford.

Only Davidson and Shelby counties come in ahead of Rutherford with more than 150,000 and 200,000 votes cast respectively.

As of Wednesday night, 54,154 Rutherford countians had showed up at the polls to cast an early ballot in the November general election with more than 6,000 of those votes coming in Wednesday.

“It seems like daily we’re setting records for daily early voting turnout,” said Hooper Penuel, elections administrator.

He expects an even larger turnout Thursday, the last day of early voting.

“If the records keep getting set during early voting it might be a breeze on Election Day,” Penuel said.

Almost a third of registered voters statewide have jumped at the chance to vote early with nearly 1.3 million ballots cast of 4 million voters across the state.

A similar trend has occurred in Rutheford County with more than a third of the 143,754 voters going to the polls early.

“I expect lines when we close at 8 p.m.,” Penuel said, adding all voters standing in line at 8 p.m. will get to cast a ballot.

Murfreesboro SportsCom, Election Commission Annex, Rutherford County Ag Center, Tennessee Rehabilitation Center in Smyrna and La Vergne Civic Auditorium are open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday.

The Election Commission office on the Square is open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday for the last day of early voting.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under ELECTION

Member Opinions:

By: uncledonclark on 10/29/08
What's the point in voting early if you have to stand in line?

By: gettinjusticesoon on 10/29/08
Because the line to early vote took me 25 minutes, whereas if I vote on Election Day I would probably be at my voting station for hours, as it was on the last major election.
I voted early at Sportscom, it wasn't a big deal.

By: barrettbear on 10/29/08
Well, carry your tale on up there sooner and maybe you will not have to stand in line.

By: Admiral on 10/29/08
I waited 5 minutes. Go to Vine Street about 10 am when everyone else is working. I know, you can't do that. Just happens my day off is on a week day.

By: bk_luvr on 10/30/08
We waited for about 25 minutes and it was no big deal at all. We went to the Election Commission office last night and it was a breeze. The line was actually a little deceptive because once you got in the the actual room there was really nothing to do but sign in and vote. It was great.

By: acdsrool on 10/30/08
Took me 30 minutes at SportsCom today. Got in line at 10:35 and was on my way out at 11:05. Not bad at all! For those in line outside...be aware that you will have about a 30 minute wait once you get to the door.

By: Flo on 10/31/08
Went to Vine Street last Thursday.
It took me longer to get out of the parking lot because I ran into friends than it did to vote. Only 1 person in line in front of me......and 3 wonderful ladies to check in with. It was a BREEZE! I love our early voting! My friends in 'non-early voting' states are very jealous of us!

By: Farmall on 10/31/08
7 mins from car door to back again. about 5 people in front of me to. Vine st. tuesday.