Early voting has begun for the November 5 state and federal General Election (presidential), including town elections in: Belle Meade; Forest Hills; Goodlettsville Municipal Elections; and also the Metro Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum Election.
On the ballot are candidates for President and Vice President, United States House of Representatives for District 6 and 7, United States Senate, Tennessee Senate District 20, multiple Tennessee House of Representatives Districts as well as the Mayor’s Transit Improvement Program.
Thrust into the role after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris became the first Black woman to receive a major political party’s nomination for president (Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to run for president in the primaries).
Other notable races include Heidi Campbell who is up for re-election to the Tenn. State Senate District 20; Gloria Johnson who is challenging Republican Marsha Blackburn for her U.S. Senate seat; former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry who is challenging incumbent Mark Green; and Justin Jones of the Tennessee Three who is being challenged by Republican Party nominee Laura Nelson.
Additionally, Mayor O’Connell’s Transit Improvement Program Referendum is on the ballot. Voters can vote for or against the referendum that, according to the Mayor’s Office, will “remake Nashville’s transportation system by building 86 miles of sidewalks—enough to stretch from Nashville to Cookeville, expanding transit to a 24/7/365 operation, increasing the frequency of transit service on Nashville’s busiest roadways, increasing safety for all roadway users, and modernizing traffic signals at more than 600 intersections.”
Early voting began on October 16, and runs through Thursday, October 31. Voters are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to avoid the election day rush. Nashville residents are encouraged to review their ballots ahead of time, research the candidates, and understand the referendum before heading to the polls.
Voters can confirm their registration at <tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup>, and get an official copy of the sample ballot at <nashville.gov/departments/elections>.
