Early voting numbers down statewide

photo Joe McReynolds studies his ballot during early voting at the Brainerd Recreation Center in Chattanooga on Tuesday.

OnlineSee a list of candidates and proposed amendments at timesfreepress.com/voterguide2014.

Vote earlyEarly voting runs through Oct. 30, and residents can choose from four polling locations:• Brainerd Recreation Center, 1010 North Moore Road: 10 a.m to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.• Hamilton County Election Commission, 700 River Terminal Road: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday.• Northgate Mall, former Golf Shop across from T.J. Maxx: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.• Eastwood Church, 4300 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

photo Campaign signs line the driveway during early voting at the Brainerd Recreation Center in Chattanooga on Tuesday.

Tennessee's first five days of early voting was down by nearly a third compared to the somewhat similar 2010 election, state figures show.

According to Secretary of State Tre Hargett's website, 136,880 registered voters took advantage of early voting from its start last Wednesday through Monday.

That compares with 203,793 people who voted during the first five days of early voting in the 2010 midterm election. It's a 32.8 percent decrease.

The same trend holds true for Hamilton County in the Nov. 4 election with 5,670 voters casting ballots in the first five days, compared to 8,084 in 2010. The decline represents a 29.9 percent drop, county election records show.

Despite lower numbers, Hamilton County Election Administrator Kerry Steelman said he remains hopeful voters will get more active.

"Historically the November general is the election that generates interest even amongst the casual voter, so I'm remaining optimistic this trend will change," Steelman said.

Early voting continues through Oct. 30.

Both 2010 and 2014 are midterm elections, meaning there is no presidential contest on the November ballot. Voter interest and turnout typically falls in comparison to presidential election years.

Voter interest in this year's midterm has been described as low in many parts of the country, especially among Democrats.

Like 2010, the top of this year's Tennessee ballot features a governor's race. But unlike four years ago, it's not much of one. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is a virtual shoo-in for re-election over Democrat Charles V. "Charlie" Brown.

Brown unexpectedly won the Democrats' primary in August, has $103 in his campaign coffers and has done almost no campaigning. Haslam, who had $3 million in the bank as of Sept. 30, is running ads with young children talking about what a great job he's done.

Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Lamar Alexander faces more of a contest from Democrat Gordon Ball, a Knoxville trial lawyer who has put some of his own money into his campaign. But the contest is seen by national observers as safe for Alexander.

Still, there are some hot issues on the ballot. Voters are being asked to decide whether to add four amendments to the Tennessee Constitution.

Among them is Amendment 1, which would make the state constitution silent on abortion, thus voiding a 2000 state Supreme Court ruling granting additional abortion protections from laws passed by Tennessee legislators.

The amendment would empower the General Assembly to pass more laws regulating abortion clinics and abortion. Proponents say those laws are needed to protect women's safety. Critics say it's an effort to restrict abortions and shut clinics down.

Other amendments on the ballot include a proposal that would largely enshrine state laws regarding the selection and retention elections of the five state Supreme Court justices and 24 other appellate judges. Haslam and former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen back the measure and are pitching it together in a TV ad.

A third amendment would bar state lawmakers from ever enacting a general state income tax, although critics say it's already unconstitutional under existing language.

Amendment 4 would add veterans' groups to the list of nonprofit organizations permitted to conduct once-a-year gambling fundraisers such as raffles.

Locally, party heads are spurring residents to get active.

Tony Sanders, the local Republican Party chairman, said GOP voters shouldn't get complacent with seemingly safe contests.

"While there's very few races on the November ballot, obviously the constitutional amendments are something everyone needs to take seriously. And Republicans need to get out to vote to make sure something's not stolen from us through apathy," Sanders said.

And for Democrats, local party leader Terry Lee said voting is the only way their party's fortunes -- and the state -- will change.

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"The key right now is people need to get involved and support their candidates to get this county moving in a better direction," Lee said. "There's a lot at stake. Do you want complete gridlock over the next four years, or do you want to do something about it?"

Meanwhile, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp said Tuesday 206,674 of the state's 6,038,372 eligible voters had cast ballots early.

Comparative early voting numbers for the 2010 mid-term election were not immediately available, although Kemp's office said the state had gained more than 242,000 voters in that time. In 2010, there were 5,795,536 registered voters, according to a news release Tuesday.

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