Chapman Mathis, 3, waits for her "Gran", Aundria Clingan, to vote in this file photo.More than 220,000 Tennesseans have voted early or absentee by mail for the Aug. 2 election, setting a record for a comparable election, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Through Wednesday, the total number of people voting early or absentee was 223,281, a news release stated.
By comparison, 206,174 Tennesseans voted during the entire early voting period in August 2008. There were 11,267 people who voted absentee by mail in that election, the news release stated.
Early voting continues through Saturday.
"Early voting numbers for comparable elections hit an all-time high - with three days to spare," Hargett said in a news release. "I commend all of those Tennesseans for exercising their right to vote and I encourage all other eligible voters to either cast ballots early or come to the polls on Election Day."