Moore County early vote 36% ahead of 2022

Early and absentee ballots have topped 900 as the local sales-tax referendum returns for a third vote

12:05 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Moore County has recorded 929 early and absentee ballots through the first 10 days of voting, running 36% ahead of the 2022 midterm election with four days of early voting remaining.

That's 248 more ballots than four years ago, although the county remains slightly behind its 2018 pace.

Figures released Sunday by the Tennessee Secretary of State's Division of Elections show 681 ballots had been recorded at the same point in 2022. In 2018, the number was 969 – just 40 more than this year's total.

Friday, Oct. 23, produced the largest daily total so far, with 156 ballots recorded. Saturday added 49 more. Tuesday, Oct. 20, was the next-busiest day, with 119.

The state's figures include in-person early voters, absentee ballots submitted by mail, and voting at licensed facilities.

Moore County holding closer to 2018 pace

Across Tennessee, 815,354 ballots had been recorded through Saturday, an increase of 51.89% over the comparable point in 2022.

Moore County's 36.42% increase trails the statewide surge, but the county is holding closer to its 2018 voting pace.

Statewide turnout remains 15.76% below the 2018 pace, while Moore County trails its 2018 total by only 4.13%.

The statewide figures are preliminary. Three of Tennessee's 95 counties had not submitted their Saturday totals when the report was compiled.

The comparisons measure voting through the same point in each election's early-voting period, not final turnout. They offer no indication of how voters are marking their ballots.

Sales-tax question returns for third vote

Among the decisions awaiting Moore County voters is a familiar one: whether to increase the county's combined sales-tax rate from 9.50% to 9.75%.

Voters have rejected the quarter-cent increase twice since March 2024. The first proposal failed 590-378 in March 2024. When the question returned that November, voters turned it down again, 2,234-1,259.

The Metro Council voted 12-1 on Aug. 31 to put the proposal before voters a third time.

If approved, the increase would add 25 cents in sales tax to a $100 taxable purchase. Groceries qualifying for Tennessee's lower food-tax rate would also be affected, with their combined rate rising from 6.50% to 6.75%.

The additional revenue would be distributed under Tennessee's local-option sales-tax laws, with half designated for education. The referendum does not earmark the proceeds for a particular county project.

Voters will mark either For or Against the proposal.

• Learn more about the sales tax referendum

State and federal races, constitutional amendments

The two-sided ballot also includes three proposed changes to Tennessee's Constitution.

• Amendment 1 would expand the serious criminal offenses for which judges could deny bail before trial.

• Amendment 2 would prohibit Tennessee from imposing a state property tax, without changing local property taxes.

• Amendment 3 would expand and clarify constitutional protections for crime victims.

In the governor's race, Republican Marsha Blackburn faces Democrat Jerri Green and 13 independent candidates.

Republican Bill Hagerty and Democrat Marquita Bradshaw head the U.S. Senate field.

Moore County voters also will see a new congressional district. Following redistricting earlier this year, the county moved into the 9th Congressional District, where Republican Brent Taylor, Democrat Justin J. Pearson, and independents Dennis Clark and Michelle Davis Head are on the ballot.

The Tennessee House District 62 race features Republican Pat Marsh and Democrat Brieanna L. Akers.

Residents can review the complete list of candidates and ballot questions in the official Moore County sample ballot.

Four days remain to vote early

Early voting resumes Monday, Oct. 26, and continues through Thursday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Moore County Election Commission office in the County Building, 241 Main St.

Voters must present an acceptable Tennessee state- or federal government-issued photo ID, subject to limited exceptions. An expired qualifying ID is acceptable.

Administrator of Elections Jim Sanders can be reached at 931-759-4532. Residents can also check their voting information at GoVoteTN.gov.

Early voting ends Thursday at 5 p.m. Anyone who misses that deadline will have one more opportunity to cast a ballot – Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, at their assigned precinct.