MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As early voting wrapped up Thursday night, Shelby County saw a significant turnout.
By Friday morning, early voter tallies reached more than 257,000—surpassing turnout from 2008, 2012, and 2016.
Linda Phillips, the administrator of elections for Shelby County, described the early voting period as a success.
“How did everything go? Actually, it went remarkably well,” Phillips said.
With Election Day approaching, voters may wonder what happens to their ballots after they’re cast. Phillips assured the public that votes are securely stored.
“They’re in sealed containers that were sealed by a Republican and a Democrat, and they’re in an undisclosed location,” Phillips said.
According to Phillips, the location is under tight surveillance, equipped with numerous cameras and is among the most secure facilities in Shelby County. Additional security measures include proximity locks on doors leading to areas containing sensitive information.
“We have a lot of security built into the system,” Phillips said. “There are electronic trackers on all of our devices, so I know where they are at every minute.”
While direct access to the vote storage location was denied, Phillips reassured that extensive precautions are in place to ensure that every vote is counted.
“My message to the voters is your vote is safe and will be counted accurately,” Phillips emphasized.