Knox County poll workers keep early voting running as turnout continues to outpace last midterm election

What This Story Is About Some Knox County poll workers have returned year after year to help run early voting, including one who has worked every election since 2016. Why It Matters Workers like Elsie Gabrielson and Andrew Erath are among roughly 180 people staffing Knox County’s 11 early voting locations, putting in long days to help residents vote. What Happens Next Early voting continues through Thursday.

Gabrielson said she plans to keep working elections as long as the commission will have her. For Context Election Day is Nov. 3. KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

(WVLT) - Roughly 180 workers are staffing Knox County’s 11 early voting locations as turnout continues to outpace the last midterm election, according to Knox County Administrator of Elections Chris Davis. Davis said each polling location needs between 12 and 20 workers to keep operations running, with some locations, like Downtown West, processing about 200 voters an hour. “It takes some really good people, and a lot of them, who are willing to work 14 days, who are willing to work 8 and 9 hour days, who are dealing with voter after voter after voter,” Davis said.

Summary of the outlet's own feed. From WVLT (Knoxville), October 27, 2026.