Posted on 02/29/2012 3:56:24 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennesseans cast 40 percent fewer ballots going into the last day of early voting Tuesday compared with the presidential primary in 2008.
Nearly 153,000 people had voted through Monday, with 79 percent of ballots cast in the Republican presidential primary. But without a challenger to Democratic President Barack Obama, voting totals are far off the state record set in 2008.
Turnout is 73 percent higher than during Republican President George W. Bush's re-election in 2004.
Early voting has been heaviest in Knox County, where more than 11,000 people have voted in the Republican primary, compared with only 878 Democrats. The next highest Republican turnout has occurred in Shelby, Rutherford, Hamilton and Williamson counties.
Four counties — Perry, Clay, Van Buren and Lake — have registered fewer than 125 in the Republican primary. In Hancock County, only four Democratic votes have been cast.
The secretary of state's office only began tracking the partisan breakdown for the early voting period in 2010, so there is no way to compare whether Republican turnout is stronger or weaker than in past presidential primaries, said spokesman Blake Fontenay.
A lower early voting turnout doesn't preclude heavy voting on Super Tuesday, said state Republican Party Executive Director Adam Nickas.
"Less than 30 percent of the overall vote occurred during early voting in the 2008 primary," he said.
Low turnout PING
What else can one expect, considering the choices....
We can, however, count on the great people of my home state to go the right way in the general election.
Even the Goreon lost Tennessee.
I think this is total turnout, both Dem and GOP, which makes it meaningless, since there is no meaningful Dem challenger.
Weird. People must’ve given up.
I’m excited. This will be my first election in Tennessee since the eighties. I’m going to show up on election day with my new Voter card AND my required photo ID.
I don’t care who wins the primary. I will vote for whom ever the Republican nominee turns out to be.
Me, too.
Except for the $50 mandated abortioner, Willard Romney.
Of course.
Photo id appears to be working.
I think you may be on to the real reason for lower turnout. People don’t care if the candidate is orange juice can as long as it isn’t Obama.
I’ve not voted yet because I want to vote for the candidate with the best chance of beating Mittens. I can only do that by waiting to election day. I’m from Knox County.
Even Romney would be better than Obama!
Me too.
If people don't vote they deserve what they get, and that's 0bama. Anyone is better then 0bama. ANYONE!
Get a Republican in and then work on the RINOS. At least it would slow down the D.I.C.K-T.A.T.E.R.
IF WE DON'T GET HIM OUT NOW IT WILL BE TOO LATE AND YOUR 'CONSERVATIVE HERO' WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
So kiss your azz and America good bye.
Right. This poll is comparing apples to oranges.
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