Wilson County, Tenn. – Early voting in Wilson County is well underway, with the County Election Commission reporting that over 26,000 ballots have been submitted so far. While the raw number of voters continues to rise, the early‑voting turnout rate stands at 23%, compared with a 32% rate at the same point in the 2018 election cycle.

Growth in registered voters fuels higher ballot count

County Administrator of Elections Tammy Smith explained that the county’s voter rolls have expanded dramatically. In 2018, Wilson County had roughly 84,000 registered voters; today that figure is about 115,000, an increase of roughly 31,000 voters over eight years. The larger electorate is a key factor behind the record‑setting early‑vote total, even as the percentage of those registered voters who have voted early is lower than it was in 2018.

Early‑voting numbers beat 2022, but fall short of 2018 percentage

Smith noted that early‑voting turnout this year already surpasses the numbers recorded in 2022, though it remains below the 2018 percentage. “In 2018, right now we were at 32 percent turnout – we’re now at 23 percent turnout for the same time period for early voting,” she said.

Mt. Juliet leads the county in early‑voter participation

According to Smith, Mt. Juliet is the hotspot for early voting, a result she attributes to two hotly contested local races on the ballot. “People in Mt. Juliet are really turning out, but they have two hotly contested races,” Smith said.

Voters share why they vote early

Lebanon resident Joshua Brewster said early voting fits his schedule, allowing him to vote during a lunch break. “We kind of like that we do have that early voting so that we can come in on our lunch breaks or something like that,” he explained.

First‑time early voter Kendall Posey described the experience as quick and efficient. “It took like 3 minutes, but it’s starting to get busy in there now,” Posey said, adding a reminder for fellow residents: “Your vote does matter… that’s for sure, don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t, your vote does matter, come out and vote.. we need it.”

Early‑voting locations and deadlines

Early voting will remain open through Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Voters may cast ballots at any of four designated sites:

• Wilson County Election Commission, 230 E. Gay Street, Lebanon
• Community Center at Charlie Daniels Park, 1075 Charlie Daniels Parkway, Mt. Juliet
• Gladeville Community Center, 95 McCrary Road, Lebanon
• Watertown Community Center, 8630 Sparta Pike, Watertown

Unlike neighboring Davidson County, Wilson County voters are not restricted to a single polling place on Election Day; any registered voter may vote at any of the 18 voting centers that will be open on November 3.

Practical voting tips

All voters must bring a photo ID. New voters should also have the voter card mailed to them. For those heading to Charlie Daniels Park, Smith recommends using the West Wilson Middle School site if lines become long.

The County Election Commission maintains an online list of all Election Day voting locations for residents who prefer to vote on November 3.

As the early‑voting period draws to a close, officials encourage all eligible residents to take advantage of the convenient locations and extended hours, emphasizing that every ballot contributes to the health of Wilson County’s democratic process.

Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.