Early Voting Underway Across Multiple US Primaries With Varied Turnout

Early voting for various local elections is underway across several states with turnout showing mixed progress. In Charlotte, North Carolina, early voting for the primary has reached nearly 8,000 ballots, close to the totals from 2023, with election officials hopeful to surpass a 10% turnout despite typically low participation in municipal primaries. Tennessee is preparing for a special election primary on October 7 to fill the vacant District 7 congressional seat, featuring a large and diverse field of candidates including 11 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents, with early voting starting September 17. Fayetteville, Tennessee, has added a third early voting location for its November 4 city elections to improve voter access, with voting hours expanded across three sites following state intervention due to local disagreements. These elections highlight ongoing efforts by officials to increase voter engagement and accessibility ahead of important local and congressional races.