Two-Week Early Voting Period Begins In Tennessee

News Channel 5 Posted: Oct 13, 2010 6:44 AM CDT Updated: Oct 13, 2010 8:24 AM CDT (AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Early voting is getting under way in Tennessee and election officials expect the turnout could beat the record for a non-presidential year. The early voting period runs from Wednesday through Oct. 28, five days before Election Day. Democrat Mike McWherter and Republican Bill Haslam are joined by 14 independent candidates running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Bredesen. Voters will also decide who will fill three seats in Congress where the incumbents are retiring and determine whether to amend the state constitution to guarantee the right to hunt and fish in Tennessee. State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said officials expect about 1 million early ballots to be filled, up from the previous record of 850,000 in a non-presidential election year.