Weakley County early voting by the numbers

By Bethany Collins

Staff Reporter

With early voting set to conclude today, more than 4,200 Weakley County residents have already cast ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 state, federal and municipal elections.

According to the latest data from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, Weakley County recorded 4,262 early and absentee ballots through Tuesday, Oct. 27. The figures, published Wednesday, Oct. 28, show local turnout running approximately 17.5% ahead of the same point in the 2022 gubernatorial election.

At the comparable stage four years ago, Weakley County had recorded 3,627 ballots, representing an increase of 635 voters this year. However, the county’s current turnout remains below its 2018 pace, when 4,632 early and absentee ballots had been recorded by the same voting day.

That represents a decrease of approximately 8% compared with 2018.

Tuesday’s report included 352 additional ballots in Weakley County, bringing the cumulative total to 4,262.

The county previously recorded 3,910 ballots through Monday, Oct. 26.

The latest figures also place Weakley County within 256 ballots of its final early-voting total from the 2022 election, when 4,518 ballots were recorded before Election Day.

In 2018, Weakley County finished early voting with 5,387 ballots. With two voting days remaining after the Oct. 27 reporting period, the county could surpass its 2022 early-voting total before polls close Thursday.

The increases in Weakley County are part of a broader statewide trend. Across Tennessee, more than 1 million voters have cast early or absentee ballots ahead of the November election.

According to the Secretary of State’s daily figures, 1,018,521 ballots had been recorded statewide through Oct. 27. That represents an increase of approximately 48% compared with the 688,001 ballots recorded at the same stage of the 2022 election.

Statewide turnout remains approximately 12% below the comparable point in 2018, when 1,161,100 ballots had been recorded. Of Tennessee’s 95 counties, 94 were reporting higher early-voting totals than at the same stage of the 2022 election.

In West Tennessee, the region had recorded 220,128 early and absentee ballots through Oct. 27, an increase of approximately 45.9% compared with 2022. 

The statewide numbers reflect ballots cast in person during early voting, absentee ballots returned by mail and voting conducted at eligible facilities, including nursing homes.

Weakley County voters are participating in several races during the Nov. 3 election, including contests for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and state legislative offices. Municipal elections are also taking place, including Martin’s mayoral race between David Bell and Dr. Kent Kelso. 

Voters will additionally consider three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution. The amendments address the right to bail for certain criminal offenses, a proposed constitutional prohibition on state property taxes and expanded rights for crime victims.

Weakley County Administrator of Elections Alex Britt has previously encouraged residents to review the proposed amendments before casting their ballots.

Early voting began Wednesday, Oct. 14, and concludes today.

Weakley County residents have two designated early-voting locations. The Weakley County Election Commission office is located at 135 S. Poplar St., Suite A, in Dresden. The second location is the Martin City Masonic Lodge at 7900 Highway 45 South in Martin. Both locations are open Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Weakley County Election Day voters can vote at any of our 7 Election Day vote centers.

Voters can find additional election information, including polling locations and sample ballots, through the Weakley County Election Commission website at www.govoteweakley.gov.