Nashville’s August election is like the playoffs. So, why are so many voters sitting it out?

Nashville voter Dawn Tyus votes every time there’s a chance.

She works for Metro Nashville Public Schools and has children attending their schools, so school board candidates were top of mind for her. But, she was shocked at the nonexistent line for early voting.

“I’m kind of surprised there’s not more people here, with tomorrow being the last day for early voting,” she says in the southeast library branch lobby on Friday. “I early vote for a time factor. I like to just get in, so I don’t forget.”

In Nashville, roughly 2,000 people are sitting out early voting compared to the same day in 2018. Contests for the Democratic governor’s race, judicial seats and four city charter amendments are on the ballot.

Jeff Roberts is the administrator of elections for Davidson County. He is betting November will have better turnout since it’s like the Super Bowl of elections with the congressional midterms on the ticket. That’s versus this election season being more like a playoff.

“Or, they’ve heard the comments that it’s a long ballot,” he says. “Or, they’ve seen the sample ballot that we’ve mailed to them and didn’t see a race that they were interested in. We aren’t really sure about the drop-off in early voting.”

Whatever their reason, Nashville voters still have a chance to vote and could have a louder voice with such low turnout.

Nashville isn’t the only place with low turnout. Williamson County’s turnout sits at 7.5% compared to 2018’s turnout, which was 13.9%.

On Friday, early voting ends at 5:30 p.m., and Saturday is the last day to early vote from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Check out voting locations here.