NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Early voting has started for the November 6 presidential election, and Tennessee election officials are anticipating another record turnout.
Metro Election Commission officials said more than 10,000 voters had cast ballots by Wednesday evening. The early voting period began Wednesday and ends November 1.
"I always thought beating the crowd would be the way to go, but I think a lot of people get excited and show up the first day, but it still only took 15 minutes," said early voter David Adams outside Metro Election Commission headquarters Wednesday morning.
There were lines at precincts all over town, including Bordeaux and Madison.
"What I wish would happen is that people would be just as energetic about the other elections as they are about this one because they all are very important," said Gwendolyn Claybrooks who was voting at the Madison Library.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett said typically a new record is set every four years, and that if history is any indication, this "will be a record-setting election."
In November 2008, there were about 1.5 million early voters in Tennessee.
Before going to the polls, election officials are reminding voters to adhere to a new state law and have government-issued photo identification when they arrive at the polls. Individuals who don't have a proper ID can vote provisionally.
(The Associated Press Contributed To This Report.)
