Low Voter Turnout Across The Upper Cumberland Tuesday

Election officials across the Upper Cumberland reported low voter turnout Tuesday, most attributed the limited turnout to rain and typical lack of interest in primary elections.

Cumberland County led the way with some 11,500 votes cast in Tuesday’s election, a 24 percent turnout. Election Commissioner Jill Davis said that number is still lower than normal. She said low turnout in primary elections is not a surprise.

Putnam County followed with some 16 percent of registered voters hitting polls Tuesday. The County recorded some 5,400 votes on election day, some 8,000 total.

Clay County reported a 13 percent turnout with some 700 Election Day voters.

White County reported just a 5 percent turnout at some 3,400 votes but Election Administrator Sherry Anderson said she was still happily surprised with the turnout given the rain Tuesday.

Dekalb County surpassed its 2020 Presidential Primary turnout by some 1,000 votes, reporting 2,900 votes. Election Administrator Dustin Estes said he was pleased with the high turnout and thankful that many people in the county realize the importance of casting their vote.

Pickett County had 922 votes cast, just two votes shy of a record low. Election Administrator Tim Clark said historically, the Presidential Primary generates low turnout.

Warren County Election Administrator Sandy Goble said the county saw a surprisingly low 7 percent turnout Tuesday. She echoes the assumption of several other Upper Cumberland election administrators, citing the rain as a factor in the low turnout.

Overton County had over 2,000 voters hit the polls Tuesday, reaching some 2,800 votes in total for the election. Election Administrator Craig Story said everything worked smoothly and all things considered, the numbers were higher than expected.