Around a dozen people braved the first freezing temperatures of the season to stand outside the community building before doors were opened for the first day of early voting on Oct. 17. William Nightingale, who moved to Franklin this year and is retired, was the first person in line to vote. Nightingale said he was in line around 7 a.m. in advance of voting starting at 8 a.m.
Once staff unlocked the doors shortly before 8 a.m., over a dozen more people joined the line inside the center. By 8:15 a.m., more than 50 people had voted, were voting or waited in the line stretching nearly to the gym.
Early voters at the Robert Carpenter Community Building later reported lines going well into the gym and the parking lot so full they had to park across the street at Ingles. One woman in line was overheard remarking that this was the most important election in her life.
While waiting in line to vote, people can check out the “I Voted” sticker contest entries presented by The Franklin Press and The Macon County Board of Elections.
The Board of Elections reported 1,608 people voted on the first day of early voting (1,277 in Franklin and 331 in Highlands). As of Oct. 21, 5,380 people had voted.
Early voting continues through Nov. 2 at the Robert Carpenter Community Building in Franklin and the Highlands Civic Center. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday (26 and Nov. 2) from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.