By Brooke Stevenson
brooke@seymourherald.com    
     Early voter turnout in Sevier County has been less than what some officials expected.
     The total number of early voters in the county as of April 26 was 2,287. This number includes the early voting locations in Seymour and Sevierville, and absentee voters.
     Although there were three days of early voting left in Sevierville when this number was reported, Election Commission officials originally anticipated a much higher that far into early voting.
     The voting location at the Seymour Library drew in 382 voters in total. That location was open to voters on April 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 24.
     After 11 days early voting in Sevierville, at the Voting Machine Warehouse, had attracted 1,790 early voters, with three days left to tally.
     Officials had noticed a “slimmer” turn out of early voters since the first days it was offered.
     During the last election in 2006 officials estimated that over 5,000 residents took advantage of the early voting option.
     Officials are unsure what has caused the drop off in early voting participation, but hope to hit at least the 3,000 mark by the end of early voting on April 29, which would be more than a 2,000 voter drop from the previous election.
     For those who did vote early, the Sevier County Republican and Democratic Primaries will be held on May 4.
     

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