More Than 8,000 Putnam Voters Reported Through Day 12

July 31, 2026

by Clarissa Reaves-Williams

Republican ballots account for three-fourths of voters listed in county daily reports as early voting enters its final days

More than 8,000 Putnam County voters had participated in early voting through Thursday, July 30, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Division of Elections.

The state’s Day 12 report lists 8,047 early and absentee voters in Putnam County. That total includes in-person early voters, absentee-by-mail ballots submitted by voters and voters at licensed facilities.

The Putnam County Election Commission’s 12 daily reports separately list a combined 7,810 voters through July 30. Those local reports provide additional information about the Republican, Democratic or general-only ballot selected by each voter.

Because the state and county reports use somewhat different measurements, Highlands Insider is presenting the figures separately rather than treating them as identical totals.

Daily turnout remains strong

Putnam County’s daily reports show sustained participation throughout the early-voting period, including a noticeable increase Thursday.

Thursday’s total was 247 voters higher than Wednesday, an increase of approximately 43.2%.

Highlands Insider calculated the local total by adding the final daily total contained in each Election Commission report. The July 30 report confirms a daily total of 819 voters.

Three out of four selected Republican ballots

The daily reports also show which primary ballot each listed voter selected.

Through July 30:

Ballot designation | Voters | Share
Republican | 5,873 | 75.2%
Democratic | 1,777 | 22.8%
Other or general only | 160 | 2.0%
Total | 7,810 | 100%

Approximately 3.3 Republican ballots were selected for every Democratic ballot listed in the county reports.

These figures describe ballot selection only. Tennessee voters do not register by political party, and selecting a party’s primary ballot does not necessarily establish a voter’s permanent political affiliation.

The numbers also reveal nothing about how a voter voted within any particular contest.

Ballot share remains stable

Republican participation has continued to account for almost exactly three-fourths of the voters listed in the county reports.

Through July 25, Republican ballots represented approximately 75.4% of the Election Commission’s listed voters. Democratic ballots represented 22.4%, while other or general-only ballots represented 2.1%.

During the next four voting days, July 27 through July 30, the reports listed:

1,933 Republican ballots

606 Democratic ballots

48 other or general-only ballots

That four-day period was approximately:

74.7% Republican

23.4% Democratic

1.9% other or general only

Democratic ballot selection increased slightly as a share of those final four reported days, but the movement was not large enough to materially change the cumulative balance.

The cumulative Republican share moved from approximately 75.4% through July 25 to 75.2% through July 30. The Democratic share moved from 22.4% to 22.8%.

In other words, the overall composition of the reported local early vote has remained highly consistent.

Putnam well ahead of prior election cycles

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s county comparison report lists 8,047 Putnam County voters through Day 12.

That was:

4,296 more voters than in 2022, an increase of 114.53%

2,312 more voters than in 2018, an increase of 40.31%

The state report lists 3,751 Putnam County voters through the same point in 2022 and 5,735 in 2018.

The comparisons show Putnam County running substantially ahead of both previous election cycles.

Statewide turnout above 2022, close to 2018 pace

According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s report through the first 12 days of early voting, 505,301 voters had been reported statewide.

That was:

130,030 more voters than in 2022, an increase of 34.65%

5,733 more voters than in 2018, an increase of 1.15%

On Day 12 alone, Tennessee reported 52,845 voters. That was 9,568 more than the corresponding Thursday in 2022, an increase of 22.11%.

However, the Day 12 total was 3,742 below the corresponding day in 2018, a decrease of 6.61%.

Sixty-six of Tennessee’s 95 counties were ahead of their cumulative 2022 pace through Day 12, while 35 counties were ahead of their cumulative 2018 pace.

For Day 12 alone, 60 counties were ahead of the comparable day in 2022 and 28 were ahead of 2018.

Why both years matter

The 2022 election included an incumbent governor seeking reelection, while 2018 featured an open governor’s race. Tennessee voters are again selecting nominees for an open governor’s seat in 2026.

Comparing turnout only with 2022 shows a dramatic increase but does not provide the full context.

Statewide turnout is significantly ahead of 2022 but only modestly ahead of 2018, the last open-governor election. Putnam County, however, remains well ahead of both election cycles.

The Secretary of State’s totals include in-person early voters, absentee-by-mail ballots submitted by voters and voters at licensed facilities.

That broader reporting method explains why the state’s Putnam County total of 8,047 is higher than the 7,810 voters listed in the county’s daily reports.

Final days remain

Early voting continues through Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Putnam County Election Commission office, 705 County Services Drive in Cookeville.

Election Day is Thursday, Aug. 6.

Highlands Insider will continue updating turnout figures as additional reports become available.