Early voting for the Carter County Primary Election opened on Wednesday with a strong showing of voters.

“We had a large crowd this morning, which is typical,” said Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris.

When the early voting polls opened at 9 a.m. voters were lined up through the building and outside waiting for their chance to cast their vote.

After the initial rush, the crowds thinned out some, but Election Officer Shelby Ward said voter turnout had been “steady” all day.

At the closing of the polls for the day on Wednesday, a total of 356 residents had cast their ballots.

Early voting runs through Thursday, April 26. The polls will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon during the early voting period. Early voting is held at the Carter County Election Commission Office, which is located at 116 Holston Ave., Elizabethton. Overflow parking for early voting is available in the First Baptist Church parking lot which is located at the corner of Holston Avenue and East G Street, just across the road from the Election Commission. Those taking part in early voting are asked not to park at the Carter County Health Department.

The opening day of early voting was marked by several candidates and campaign volunteers who set up along the sidewalks near the Election Commission Office holding signs and waving to passing motorists.

While early voting is ongoing, the Election Commission Office is a legal polling place, which means the 100-foot boundary on campaign materials is in effect for the office building as well as the parking area. Campaign materials such as signs, hats, t-shirts, buttons, or campaign literature are not allowed within 100 feet of a polling place under state law.

For more information on early voting or the County Primary Election, or to check your voter registration status, contact the Carter County Election Commission by calling 423-542-1822.