Knoxville – At the halfway mark (six days of twelve) of early voting for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Preference/Knox County Primary Election, a total of 8,288 early votes have been cast, with an additional 724 votes cast by absentee ballot and in nursing homes.

REGISTERED VOTERS in KNOX COUNTY (as of Wednesday, February 21, 2024) – 299,140.

NEW VOTERS: A total of 189 first-time voters through the first six days (halfway point) of early voting.

EARLY VOTES CAST AT THE MIDWAY POINT COMPARED TO OTHER PPP/COUNTY PRIMARY ELECTIONS

• March 2024 – 8,288       (total votes cast – TBD)
• March 2020 – 9,989       (total votes cast – 83,148)
• March 2016 – 6,857       (total votes cast – 92,219)
• March 2012 – 4,921       (total votes cast – 49,747)

EARLY VOTES CAST BY AGE (Does not include absentee ballots)

• Age 18 to 24                 110       (1.3%)
• Age 25 to 34                 208       (2.5%)
• Age 35 to 54                 1,144    (13.8%)
• Age 55 +                       6,826    (82.4%)

EARLY VOTING – PRIMARY CHOICE BY AGE (Does not include absentee ballots)

• Age 18 to 24                 Republican 78, Democratic 32
• Age 25 to 34                 Republican 155, Democratic 53
• Age 35 to 54                 Republican 948, Democratic 196
• Age 55 +                       Republican 5502, Democratic 1324

EARLY VOTES CAST BY COUNTY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT

• District 1 (County Commission on ballot)                                    357
• District 2 (County Commission & School Board on ballot)            649
• District 3 (School Board on ballot)                                              691
• District 4 (County Commission on ballot)                                    988
• District 5 (County Commission & School Board on ballot)            1,600
• District 6 (County Commission on ballot)                                    1,027
• District 7 (No district races on ballot)                                          983
• District 8 (County Commission & School Board on ballot)            1,410
• District 9 (County Commission on ballot)                                    583

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, February 27. Anyone wishing to vote absentee can call the Election Commission at 865-215-2480 or can download an absentee request at https://knoxcounty.org/election/

RISE AND SHINE ON SATURDAY WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION

If 10 AM is too late for you, early voting at the City County Building in downtown Knoxville opens at 8 AM on Saturday, February 24– early birds can take advantage of early hours!

PRE-GENERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

All candidates on the ballot have a Pre-Primary Campaign Financial Disclosure due on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. It will cover the period from January 16 to February 24, 2024.

These reports will be posted upon receipt by the Election Commission at: https://knoxcounty.org/election/candidate_info/index.php

POLLS OPEN UNTIL 7 PM ON THE LAST TWO DAYS OF EARLY VOTING

All eleven early voting locations will be open until 7 PM on the last two days of early voting – Monday and Tuesday, February 26 & 27.

For more information, visit https://knoxcounty.org/election/

The man accused of killing a Blount County Deputy is back in court today. (Tuesday)

Kenneth Dehart, Jr. faces first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and being a felon in possession of a weapon charges.

He is accused of killing Deputy Greg McCowan and injuring Deputy Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop on February 8th in Maryville.

Dehart, Jr. has not entered a plea on the charges, this will be his second time in court since being arrested last week after being on the run for five days.

Knox County is excited to announce the kickoff of the Plumb Creek Park Stream Enhancement Project, a strategic effort aimed at revitalizing the water quality and ecosystem of Plumb Creek, a tributary of Beaver Creek, supported by federal funding.

Plumb Creek Park, located at 1517 Hickey Road, features a disc golf course, playground, shelter, walking trails and an 8-acre dog park.

The project, which began this month, is expected to wrap up in December and include a comprehensive set of restoration activities. Work includes removing obstructions such as culverts and debris; controlling invasive species; stabilizing stream banks; and installing stream structures to improve habitat quality, erosion, and sediment control measures.

Some sections of the park will close temporarily during construction. However, the dog park will remain open for our furry friends.

This project is funded in part by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a federal initiative to aid state and local governments in mitigating the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, email [email protected] or call Knox County Engineering & Public Works at 865-215-5800.