MOUNT VERNON – Based on early voting numbers, it appears Knox County voters are far more engaged in this midterm election cycle than they were in the last.

Knox County Board of Elections Director Kim Horn said Tuesday morning that 7,876 total early voting ballots had been distributed, with 6,762 returned as of 8:30 a.m. During the 2014 midterm election, 5,334 early voting ballots were distributed (11,667 were distributed in 2016, when the presidential election occurred).

“I just sort of think the political atmosphere is a little… people are more emotional, I think,” Horn said when asked to explain the spike in early voter turnout.

This year’s midterm ballot features contentious state and federal races, as well as hot-button local issues. Democrat Ken Harbaugh will challenge Republican Bob Gibbs for the 7th Congressional District seat, while state positions such as senator, governor, attorney general and others are also up for grabs.

In addition, Mount Vernon residents will vote on the charter issue and the county will vote on State Issue 1, two divisive ballot items that have grabbed the attention of local voters in recent months.

According to the Board of Elections website, there are 42,292 registered voters in Knox County. Of those, 13,363 are registered Republicans, 4,291 are registered Democrats and 24,632 are registered without party affiliation. There are also six registered Green Party voters.

Of the 7,876 residents participating in early voting, registered Republicans represent the largest portion, totaling 3,309 voters. 1,527 registered Democrats voted early, along with 3,038 voters who registered without party affiliation.

Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and will close at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters will be able to drop off absentee ballots at the Board of Elections office until 7:30 p.m. Horn estimates that election results will not be finalized until around 9:30 p.m.

There are 52 voting precincts at 29 polling locations throughout Knox County, and a minimum of four BOE workers man each station. Workers arrived as early as 5:30 this morning and will stay until voting ends tonight.

Horn said this morning that there have been no major issues at any of the polling stations thus far, aside from a few calls about small mechanical issues, which are commonplace.

Make sure to check KnoxPages.com and follow Knox Pages on Facebook and Twitter throughout the evening to stay updated on election results. The Board of Elections will also post results on its website.