NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
Nearly one million Tennesseans have already voted in the November general election, and officials say early voting numbers this year will likely surpass early voting totals in 2008 when more than 1.5 million people cast their ballots early.
That could mean the actual Election Day likely won't see the crowds many have expected.
In past elections, one early voting site in La Vergne had only reported one day in which 500 voters walked through the door. However, for the past two weeks, poll workers say they haven't seen a day under 500 voters.
"Time and convenience: for me, that's it," said early voter Lyle Saltmann.
And that convenience for voters also means convenience for election officials, as they expect 60 percent of the state's total ballots cast in this election will be done by the time early voting ends on Thursday.
"It makes for shorter lines over the course of the period. It also makes it easier on poll workers and election officials," said Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett.
If 2008 is any indication, the percentage of early ballots cast in the most populated Middle Tennessee counties will be larger.
In that election, voters cast 72 percent of ballots early in Davidson County, 75 percent in Williamson County and 65 percent in Rutherford County.
So it's possible in some places there could be little to no lines on Election Day.
"In many polling precincts, you'll see it may actually be slower on Election Day because a lot of people went and voted during the early voting period," Hargett said.
Still, people voting early Tuesday said they just wanted get it out of the way in case Election Day gets crazy.
"Especially with it being such an important election, I believe it's good to go ahead and get it done early so you're not caught in the chaos on Election Day," said early voter Aaron Quaye.
All of those votes might be cast, but they have not yet been counted. Election officials don't actually tabulate the early votes until the polls have closed on Election Day, Nov. 6.
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