Tennessee Sets Record for Early Voting

[Rose Siding]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee voters turned out in record numbers over the past two weeks to cast their ballots for president, at times overwhelming the limited number of precincts that were opened during the state's early voting period.

About 1.13 million residents cast ballots during the 14-day early voting period that ended Thursday. Tennessee has about 3.7 million registered voters, meaning 30.5 percent of them have already gone to the polls.
........
The turnout shattered the record of 747,753 during early voting in the 2000 election. In 2000, 2.1 million votes were cast overall.

President Bush holds a sizable lead over Democrat John Kerry in Tennessee -- one of more than two dozen states that allow early voting.

In Georgia, officials reported that 180,000 residents had taken advantage of the state's five-day early voting period by the end of the business day Friday. It is only a partial figure, based on reports from about half the counties. Lines of six hours were reported in some areas.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-tennessee-voting,0,1835563.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Kadie]

1. Wow. n/t

[disgruntled_goat]

2. six hour lines?!?!?

im having trouble digesting that concept.
wow. whatever's in that little booth must be a hell of a ride ;)

[fob]

3. bush holds a sizable lead over Democrat John Kerry in Tennessee

How do they know that? WTF are they doing giving out results anyway? Where do we go to verify the size of this "sizeable lead"?

[Sinnerman]

4. WTF.... I thought Kerry had a chance inTennessee

[mom cat]

6. *'s "lead" depends on an average turnout..In a huge turnout, Kerry WINS!

[TheWraith]

9. TN is weak

As of the last reliable polling I saw there, Shrub was leading by 6 points. Soulsick's right, it's all about the turnout.

[gristy]

8. My guess is they are referring to a poll.

Just some very poor reporting.

[0007]

5. Give 'em hell Tennessee

Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does.

Call 866 687-8683
If Poll Workers refuse you to vote for any reason
If there is a late opening or early closing of a polling place.
If your polling place runs out of ballots or has an incorrect ballot
If you experience poll worker insensitivity or discrimination in the voting process

The civil rights community have set up a toll-free Election Day hotline. This line is staffed now and,
in addition to logging your complaint, the civil rights organizations have law students and attorneys
who can provide assistance on Election Day.

The hotline number is
866 687-8683
202 457-0473 fax

When you call the hotline, be prepared to give your name, telephone number, and note as many
details as possible, including the names of the people who are involved.

[AwareOne]

7. I VOTED TODAY IN FLORIDA

There was about a one hour wait, over a hundred people in line ahead of me. You had to take a number at the door like you do at the deli. Fortunately, it was at a library so I just cruised in and checked out the latest non-fiction books while I waited. Man it felt good to vote for Kerry-Edwards!

[Toots]

10. Already more than half of all who voted in 2000 have voted this year

I think people are definitely motivated this year and that usually is not good for an incumbent. I hope Bush* has super reverse coattails. We need to make gains in the house to send the message to Republicans that it isn't just Bush*. The whole party needs some comeupence.

[barb162]

13. I want a Kerry landslide so bad I can taste it. Then there would be

no challenges and the shrubster would have to go back to the ranch.

[Carolab]

11. Define "sizeable lead"

We got ACTUAL numbers for Florida and Kerry was quite a bit ahead there in early voting

Here's Kos on Tennessee
http://andir.dailykos.com/story/2004/10/19/22544/849

[barb162]

12. why are so many people "early" voting? I don't get it. TN: 30% early

[Carolab]

14. Because they've been urged to

to avoid long lines and possibly too many people not getting a chance to vote before polls close due to numbers and problems with machines, "fraud", etc.

[Mom4Kerry]

15. In my canvassing

the reasons given for early voting by the people I talked with were mostly that this is the most important election of their lifetimes. Kerry is running strong here in Memphis, and most of Shelby County, from what I can see. (bumperstickers, signs, etc.) What those articles don't tell you is the highest record-breaking turnouts (150 - more than 300%) were at polling places that are traditionally democratic.

[barb162]

17. I am glad to see this message. I am always afraid Dems won't vote

there are so many Democrats but so many just don't vote. The repukes always seem to vote. Anyway, I will vote on 11/2 on the early side for sure. I am a bit afraid of early voting and where those ballots may disappear especially if the repukes fear a landslide. Oh boy, would I ever like to see a Kerry landslide.

[Claire Beth]

22. Same here in Nashville.....

Davidson county is a BIG democratic county and we have a good chance of going blue if we can get a huge turnout in east TN.

[Rose Siding]

23. Good luck in Memphis

and welcome to DU :hi:

[5thGenDemocrat]

27. The #1 response I get in Michigan as to why folks are going Kerry

Is "I can't stand that son-of-a-bitch in there now." And the city of Saginaw (esp the central West Side) is going somewhere around 80 percent for the Dems by my actual count. Easy.
John
And the East Side will go heavier Dem than that.

[missingthebigdog]

16. I early voted today- waited almost 4 hours.

I am in Little Rock, Arkansas, and vote in a predominately black, low income neighborhood. Massive turnout here; its been that way all week.

Unfortunately, Janet Huckabee, the governor's wife, is a poll worker at this site. Nothing illegal about her being there- she isn't running for office this time- but doesn't seem right anyway. Alot of people in line complaining about it. Apparently she was pretty pushy about demanding ID's earlier this week, so they moved her to a different position.

Does my heart good to see so many people willing to wait that long to vote though, especially in this neighborhood. I think it bodes well for us. That, along with the increased number of ads running here. . . .

[barb162]

19. is that woman usually a poll worker at your polling place

I was denied the right to vote a few years ago even though I had a voting card and other IDs. It is the worst feeling. For some reason I wasn't on their computer list all of a sudden even though I had been at the same address for about 8 years. But I had asked for a dem primary ballot in the previous election so the creeps had me labelled as a Democrat and then I wound up "off" the official computer list. Primal scream. I live in a highly GOP area. There is no end to the slime tactics the GOP will do to maintain power. Well if it happens next week I will demand a provisional ballot.

[Endangered Specie]

18. If Tenessee votes Kerry...

Ill promise never to crack another Tenessee joke again ;)

[Claire Beth]

21. and I will promise not to make fun of your spelling....

of Tennessee! :hi:
seriously, all hope is NOT gone for Kerry here. He does have a chance.

[Endangered Specie]

26. Oh I know...

Tenn. NC and VA are not nearly as solid Bush as they once were :)

[Claire Beth]

20. I live in Tennessee....

Bush does NOT have a sizeable lead here, I don't care what they say. If he is ahead in the polls it's barely. There are way too many people I know who voted for * in 2000 who are NOT voting for him in 2004. The "sizeable lead" must be referring to a poll since they don't look at the ballots until the polls close on November 2nd. Kerry DOES have a chance here, don't believe otherwise!

[trapper914]

It May Be Closer Than Some Think

The Media Fund has been hammering away at Bush this week on my radio station, and on several others. Their new spot today was 60 seconds of the Big Dog. Why invest so much in Tennessee if it's a Bush cakewalk?

[Flammable Materials]

24. One need only drive down the street to prove this, Claire ...

Is it me, or are there more K/E stickers than W stickers on Nashville roads right now?

[Claire Beth]

25. Yes, lots more K/E signs ....

even in the Green Hills/Woodmont Blvd. area (an area one would think would be more republican) there are twice as many K/E than those for Bush.