Early voting picks up in Franklin County

CAST YOUR BALLOTPolls are open today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at the Franklin County Annex in WinchesterAug. 1: Election Day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDTELECTION DAY POLL LOCATIONSWinchester: Franklin County Annex and Clark Memorial SchoolHuntland: Huntland Community CenterCowan: Cowan Elementary SchoolDecherd: Decherd Elementary SchoolEstill Springs: Estill Springs Community CenterSource: Franklin County Election Commission

Today is the final day of early voting in Franklin County, Tenn.'s five municipal elections.

Elections officials said early voting has been slow but steady, with a little uptick at the end of the week.

"It's over [Saturday], but it's been slow," Deputy Administrator of Elections Dianne Zimmerman said Friday. "I think today's picking up a little bit more."

Margaret Ottley, the administrator of elections, said Winchester has drawn the most early voters, at 350 on Friday. Winchester has about 5,000 registered voters, Ottley said.

She said Estill Springs, which has 1,700 registered voters, had tallied 118 early ballots by Friday.

Cowan, with 1,200 registered voters, had 105 early votes cast through Friday afternoon, and of the 570 registered voters in Huntland, 17 had cast early ballots, Ottley said.

Decherd, which has two alderman seats and two candidates, drew 24 early voters.

Election officials said voter turnout for municipal elections has been "historically low," so the number of people casting ballots has been no surprise.

Cowan has a mayoral contest and three City Council seats on the ballot. Winchester, the county's largest city, has five candidates vying for three City Council seats.

Huntland voters will decide between an incumbent and challenger for mayor and will pick two winners from three candidates for alderman, while voters in Estill Springs will pick two candidates from four running for alderman.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

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