Presidential Race Packs Nashville Precincts

Lines stretched outside several voting precincts, including this one at Granbery Elementary School in Nashville. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

Some precincts around Middle Tennessee are experiencing long lines, even after a big turnout during the two-week early voting period.

Kathleen Lee was one of the first in the queue at a south Nashville elementary school. She says she was still making up her mind over the last few weeks. But she also likes the energy of Election Day, especially in presidential years.

“It’s just kind of fun to be here on voting day. I think that’s kind of fun. It’s ‘the day’ sort of thing.”

Polling stations are packed with voters interested in weighing in on the presidential race, and sometimes not much else.

After waiting nearly an hour to cast her first vote for president, 21-year-old Sierra Hull of Nashville says she should have done more homework. She skipped over the U.S. Senate, House and state legislative races.

“I just didn’t vote – yeah – in those categories. I wish I could say that I did.”

Hull says it wouldn’t have been fair since she knew so little about the candidates.

Also on the ballot in Nashville are several charter amendments. One would expand the powers of the Davidson County sheriff. Tax increases are up for a vote in several counties, including Sumner, where a $25 wheel tax hike would go to public schools.