State elections officials report record-setting totals statewide for the early voting just ended.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett and State Election Coordinator Mark Goins report the early voting numbers tor this year beat out any statewide total for an August election on record in Tennessee.
The Tennessee Department of State reports 562,637 ballots cast early for the state primaries and county general elections to be held August 7. More than 352,850 Republican ballots were cast in the state, with more than 164,429 Democratic ballots cast.
The largest county increase in early voting was in Hamilton County, an increase of about 6,000 votes. The biggest county drop was in Shelby County, down by about 9,000 votes from 2010. Shelby County still saw the most votes cast in the state, however, at more than 82,249 ballots.