More than 10,000 people vote early in City of Knoxville election

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The City of Knoxville said more than 10,000 people voted early for the city’s regular election.

When early voting wrapped up on 6 p.m. on Oct. 30, the city said a total of 10,855 early votes were cast. Additionally, 867 votes were cast by absentee ballot and in nursing homes, as of Friday.

City officials said this is the highest amount of votes cast since the November 2019 election when the mayor’s race was on the ballot. That election saw 10,878 people vote early and 25,614 total votes cast.

One of the key items on the ballot is a vote on a proposed half-percent increase on Knoxville’s sales tax from 2.25% to 2.75%, meaning city shoppers would pay an extra penny for every two dollars they spend and bring the city’s rate up to par with other areas of East Tenne