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By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

Early voting ends today, but voters appear to have already shattered the Carter County record, according to reports sent to the Tennessee Secretary of State.

As of Tuesday, county voters have cast 12,555 in-person early votes and mail-in absentee ballots — a 21.95 percent increase over the same 12-day period in 2020. That was the year the record of 12,167 early in-person voters and absentee mail-in ballots was set during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carter County is currently showing the third-highest increase in total early voting, with DeKalb County showing a 33.43 percent surge and Greene County seeing a 32.02 percent increase.

According to the Secretary of State’s website, 1,801,162 in-person early votes and 74,131 absentee mail-in votes have been cast statewide, slightly behind 2020’s pace when a combined 1,962,927 ballots had been cast in the first 12 days of early voting.

“If you have made your electoral decision, go ahead and cast your ballot,” Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said on Wednesday. “Don’t risk not being able to get to the polls on Election Day.”

Early voters can cast their ballots at the Carter County Election Commission, 116 Holston Ave., before 4:30 p.m. today. Voters need to bring valid photo identification to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government, or the federal government can be used even if expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has ranked Tennessee as No. 1 in the nation in election integrity for three consecutive years. Among the 16 points the Secretary of State’s office notes regarding election integrity:

— Voting machines used in Tennessee are not connected to the internet.

— Election officials match the signature on the absentee by-mail ballot envelope with the one on file in the Elections Office.

— Absentee by-mail ballots are watermarked.

— Absentee by-mail ballots cast during early voting are not counted until Election Day.

Registered voters can find hours and polling locations, view sample ballots, and more by downloading the GoVoteTN app or visiting GoVoteTN.gov.