Early voting for the upcoming County Primary election kicks off on Wednesday, and local officials are expecting to see a high turn out at the polls.

“I’m expecting a large turnout for early voting,” Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris said. “There has been a lot of interest in this election.”

During the last County Primary election in May 2014, Harris said a total of 9,904 residents cast ballots, with 4,274 voters choosing to take part in early voting instead of waiting until Election Day. The overall voter turnout for that election was just over 42 percent, according to Harris.

“I expect there will be more votes than that this time,” Harris said.

With so much interest in several of the local races, Harris recommends residents consider casting their ballots during early voting so they can avoid the lines at the polls on Election Day.

Early voting will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11 and conclude at 4 p.m. on April 26. During the early voting period, the polling place will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday and then from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.

Early voting will be held at the Carter County Election Commission Office, which is located at 116 Holston Ave., Elizabethton.

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.

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.

For more information, contact the Carter County Election Commission by calling 423-542-1822.