This election is no exception. As of mid Monday with three full days to go, the early vote total for this election had already surpassed the total for all of early voting back in 2004. In 04, 11,066 Loudon County voters took to the polls early. At the close of voting Tuesday, 12,700 voters have taken advantage of the convenience of early voting. If the last two days of voting continue at the same pace, Loudon County could see 50% turn out of the 30,295 registered voters in the county. The total vote in 2004 was 19,966. We're well on the way to break that record also.

Early voting will continue Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm. It's just too easy not to do it.

Loundon Co. reports record number of early voters

By HARLOW SUMERFORD
6 News Reporter

LENOIR CITY (WATE) -- In Loudon County there are more than 4,000 new voters, compared to the 2004 presidential election and many of those are voting early.
According to the election office, 38 percent of registered voters have already cast their ballots.
"This country is in bad shape right now and we definitely need a change," says one voter, Stuart Thackston.
"It is time for everybody, the best leaders out there to get involved. I know for myself, I am making that decision for the sake of my grandchildren. I want them to have a good future," says another voter, Ann Walden.

At the Lenoir City polling location, Betty Brown says she's worked elections for 40 years and it has never been this busy.
"They are coming through every day. There is no big empty space where people aren't voting," Brown says.
All early voting records from previous years have already been broken.
"There are people that say they have never voted before in their life and this is their first time voting, but they feel so strongly about this election," Carolyn Schultz says.

There's no doubt the presidential race is driving the large turn-out, but other issues like bringing liquor stores to Loudon County will be closely contested.
The voting numbers will continue to climb because early voting doesn't end until Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.

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