GOP Senate race tops Tennessee primary Election Day ballot

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Election Day in pandemic times has arrived in Tennessee, where primary voters on Thursday will decide a heated Republican race for U.S. Senate and other federal and state contests.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty and trauma surgeon Manny Sethi are competing to become the GOP nominee in the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Polls open at different times, with details available on the secretary of state’s website, sos.tn.gov. They close statewide at 7 p.m. Central, 8 p.m. Eastern.

The state is encouraging voters to wear masks and follow social distancing protocols at the polls.

Voters must bring a valid photo ID. Acceptable forms include a Tennessee driver license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government, even if expired. College IDs are not acceptable.

More than 578,000 Tennesseans voted in person or absentee during the two-week early voting period.