{"id":2728,"date":"2026-11-03T00:51:14","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paperfoldsnews.com\/staging\/9696\/?p=2728"},"modified":"2026-11-03T01:34:16","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T07:34:16","slug":"tipton-county-heads-to-the-polls-after-early-vote-tops-2022-by-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paperfoldsnews.com\/staging\/9696\/tipton-county-heads-to-the-polls-after-early-vote-tops-2022-by-31\/","title":{"rendered":"Tipton County heads to the polls after early vote tops 2022 by 31%"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s how Tipton compares and what to know before you vote today.<\/em><\/h1>\n

Tipton County voters head to the polls today after 11,127 of them cast ballots early, 31% more than during early voting for the 2022 midterm, according to Tennessee Secretary of State data.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s 27.66% of the county\u2019s 40,229 registered voters, a little above the statewide early turnout rate of 27.06%. Tipton ranked 15th among Tennessee\u2019s 95 counties by percentage of registered voters and 22nd by total votes.<\/p>\n

Up from 2022, down from 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the 2022 midterm, 8,474 Tipton County voters cast early ballots. In 2018, 13,019 did, according to the TN Firefly turnout tracker. This year\u2019s total falls between the two, about 15% below 2018.<\/p>\n

The county\u2019s voter rolls have grown less than 2% since 2022, so growth in registered voters accounts for little of the increase. Early turnout rose from 21.43% of registered voters in 2022 to 27.66% this year. In 2018, it was 35.37%.<\/p>\n

Tipton County early votes, full 14-day period<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Sources: Tennessee Secretary of State (2026); TN Firefly turnout tracker (2018, 2022).<\/em><\/p>\n

The state grew faster<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Across Tennessee, 1,280,642 people voted early, up 45% from 882,310 in 2022. Tipton\u2019s 31% increase trailed that pace, though its turnout rate still finished slightly above the state\u2019s.<\/p>\n

How Tipton compares<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tipton finished fifth among West Tennessee\u2019s 21 counties, behind Shelby (31.77%), Fayette (29.16%), Weakley (28.15%) and Haywood (28.11%). Lauderdale finished at 25.95%.<\/p>\n

Among the 20 Tennessee counties with 30,000 to 55,000 registered voters, Tipton ranked sixth. Loudon led that group at 36.66%.<\/p>\n

Statewide, Williamson County had the highest early turnout at 38.72%, and Hancock County had the lowest at 11.85%. The median county finished at 22.16%.<\/p>\n

Early turnout in West Tennessee counties<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Early votes as a share of registered voters. Source: Tennessee Secretary of State, Day 14 turnout report.<\/em><\/p>\n

The last day was the busiest<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On Thursday, Oct. 29, 1,306 people cast ballots, the most of any day and about 64% more than the daily average of 795. Wednesday\u2019s 963 votes were the second-highest. Through the first two weeks, weekday totals stayed between 691 and 848.<\/p>\n

The final day accounted for 11.7% of Tipton\u2019s early vote, the same share as statewide.<\/p>\n

The two Saturdays, when sites were open only from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., were the slowest days, with 396 votes on Oct. 17 and 515 on Oct. 24. Even so, Saturdays drew a larger share of the vote in Tipton than in most counties: 8.2% of the county\u2019s early ballots, compared with 6.3% in the typical county and 7.6% statewide.<\/p>\n

What it could mean for the final count<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Early votes made up about 56% of all Tipton County ballots in 2022 and about 66% in 2018, based on TN Firefly\u2019s early voting totals and final turnout figures from the Secretary of State.<\/p>\n

If this year\u2019s early vote makes up a similar share, a Paper Folds News calculation puts the final count between about 16,800 and 19,900 voters, or roughly 42% to 50% of registered voters. That would be higher than 2022\u2019s final turnout of 38.32% and lower than 2018\u2019s 53.35%.<\/p>\n

How many voters wait until Election Day changes from one election to the next, so the final number could land outside that range.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s on the ballot<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tipton County ballots include races for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the state House, three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution and municipal races that vary by town. Brighton voters will also decide three referendums on retail package stores, liquor by the drink and a local sales tax increase.<\/p>\n

For a constitutional amendment to pass, it needs more yes votes than no votes, and the yes votes must equal a majority of all votes cast in the governor\u2019s race. Skipping an amendment does not count as a no vote, but it makes the required total harder to reach.<\/p>\n

Before you go<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hours<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone in line when polls close at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.<\/p>\n

Where to vote<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place. The early voting sites, the Election Commission office in Covington and First Baptist Church Atoka, are not Election Day polling places. If you\u2019ve moved, make sure you go to the polling place for your current address.<\/p>\n

Tipton County has nine Election Day polling places, one in each of the county\u2019s nine voting districts. Not sure of your district? Look up your polling place and personal sample ballot at tnmap.tn.gov\/voterlookup or GoVoteTN.<\/p>\n

What to bring<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bring a photo ID issued by the federal government or the State of Tennessee. It\u2019s fine if it\u2019s expired. Accepted IDs include:<\/p>\n