NASHVILLE (AP) - Election officials say Tennessee has set a record for early and absentee voting.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett says almost 1.7 million people voted early in person or by mail, topping the record of almost 1.6 million during the 2008 presidential election.

Some Nashville voters were in line for hours Thursday, the last early voting day.

Davidson County Election Commission spokeswoman Nancy DeKalb says the last ballot at the Southeast Community Center was cast just before 10 p.m. Central.

Tennessee voters in line before the 7 p.m. cutoff could wait around to vote.

DeKalb says the last vote at another location, the Green Hills Library, came just before 9 p.m.

About 174,500 people cast early and absentee ballots in Davidson County, more than in 2012, but less than in 2008.