Wednesday, August 4, 2010 12:56 pm

Results from Tennessee’s Aug. 5 elections will be updated periodically at the Tennessee Department of State web site on election night after numbers are reported by county election officials.

The results will be unofficial until they have been certified by the election commissions in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. However, for the first time in a statewide election, the department’s web site will provide a centralized place to view results as updates become available.

Historically, the department’s Division of Elections has posted only the final numbers, which often were not available until late at night or early in the morning following elections.

“This is a new service that we are offering to candidates, their supporters and Tennesseans who are interested in following our electoral process,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “People can go to our site to see results from across the state as they are reported to us. We believe this will be a faster and more efficient way for Tennesseans to get access to this important information that will impact our state’s future.”

The results can be found on the Department of State’s Division of Elections page: http://state.tn.us/sos/election/index.htm

Polls are scheduled to close statewide at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time Thursday.