CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Voters this year shattered early voting records in Montgomery County, with 44,254 people casting ballots during the 13-day window.

That’s 10,000 more votes than last year, and it beats all the Montgomery County records for early voting, which began here in 1994, and has plateaued over the prior three presidential election cycles.

  • 1996, Clinton vs. Dole, 9,945*
  • 2000, Bush vs. Gore, 19,072*
  • 2004, Bush vs. Kerry, 24,575*
  • 2008, McCain vs. Obama: 33,318
  • 2012, Obama vs. Romney: 31,506
  • 2016, Clinton vs. Trump: 34,156
  • 2020, Biden vs. Trump: 44,254

And that doesn’t include the by-mail total so far, which would bring it up to 49,509.

The total votes cast in person on the final day was 3,547. That’s another record over previous years:

  • 2008, final day: 3,228
  • 2012, final day: 2,690
  • 2016, final day: 3,184
  • 2020, final day: 3,547

Thursday was the last day to vote early in the state of Tennessee.

Records broken statewide

Statewide, early voting was busting all previous records.

By the close of polls on Wednesday, 2.1 million Tennesseans had cast their ballots early or absentee by-mail, said Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

This is a 38 percent increase of early in-person and absentee by-mail votes cast compared to 2016, with each county reporting higher numbers than ever before.

“These record numbers demonstrate Tennessee voter’s confidence in the safe, sensible and responsible administration of this election,” Hargett said. “County elections officials are doing a great job helping voters have a smooth voting experience.”

On Election Day

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters can find their polling location on the back of their Voter Registration Card or at the Montgomery County Election Commission website.

Tennessee voters will need to bring valid photo ID to the polls. A Tennessee driver license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

While visiting the polls, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintaining a 6-foot distance from poll officials and other voters.

For more information about early voting in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

Come back to ClarksvilleNow.com on election night for live returns and reaction from candidates.

*Leaf-Chronicle archives

Casey Williams contributed to this report.