BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — On Tuesday, people lined up to cast their votes while early voting time ran out.
Election managers in Blount County recorded more than 5,000 votes so far in the primary election, and they said they hope for a higher turnout on Election Day, March 5.
As for what drives people to the polls this year, it varies from one person to another. Marie Downey, a Blount County voter, said she wanted to get it done as soon as possible.
"I wanted to have a say in it," Downey said. "I just found it easier if something comes up that day, I've already voted."
Another Blount County voter, Elizabeth June Oliver, is about to turn 97 years old and told WBIR she was raised during the Great Depression.
Oliver said she always votes, but this year the current economy is just one more thing that drove her to the polls. Inflation is reminding her how it used to be in the past, Oliver said.
"They can't keep going on like they're going right now," Oliver said. "The United States, the government's got to come up with a good solution or we going to have a depression."
As of Saturday, Blount County was at 4,166 votes, which is about 4% of the voters in the county. Susan Knopf, administrator of elections said that number was around 17% below where they were in 2020. Yet, it was a little better than 2016.
It has been a busy morning for the county, Knopf said. Election workers said they anticipated a higher turnout Tuesday than in the previous days. For Election Day, they're expecting long lines.
Don Myers, another Blount County voter, said nothing stops him from voting because he considers it as natural as breathing.
"For me, voting is not an option," Myers said. "If we live in a democracy, it's very important for as many people as possible to vote."
Blount County leaders are now preparing for Election Day, and Knopf said there are a few challenges that people may not realize. Planning for Election Day is like hosting a huge party for 95,500 registered voters, and they want everyone to go out and vote.
"We're hoping that voters understand that every vote does count," Knopf said. "You have to plan for 95,000 people and then when you have a low voter turnout, it's just, nobody comes to your party and it's kind of sad."
This month, Blount County opened five early voting centers. On Election Day voters must go to their precinct to cast a ballot, and there are 27 across the county.
Downey said this election may not excite many people, yet voting is a privilege that everyone should honor.
"Biggest challenge, nationally, is needing someone else to run. We've had two of them, ready to get rid of them. So yeah, just somebody else needs to run," Downey said. "You have a right to vote and you should accept it. Even if you don't like them. Vote for the one you don't like the least."