When the early voting polls closed in Carter County on Thursday afternoon a record number of residents had cast their ballots.

At the end of the day on Thursday, a total of 9,722 Carter Countians had voted in the mid-term elections. This is more than twice as many as took part in early voting during the 2014 mid-terms, which 4,196 residents voted early.

In addition to the high turnout at the early voting polls, Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris said new voter registrations saw an increase ahead of this election. According to Harris, she and her staff received 1,600 new voter registrations ahead of the deadline to participate in this election.

Carter County currently has 34,028 registered voters in the county. So, with 9,722 residents casting their ballots early, voter turnout in the county is already at 28.5 percent with Election Day yet to come.

Harris credits the rise in early voting and voter registration numbers to high interest in the state and federal races appearing on the ballot.

Polls will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Those already in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. The results from early voting will not be calculated until after the polls close on Election Day.