When polls open, polling places

On November 6, 2024By Littum

Staff report
| Nashville, Tennessean

Election day is here!

The only statewide race on the ballot this year is a U.S. Senate race, with incumbent U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, seeking a second six-year term against Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson. Meanwhile, all nine US House seats are up for election this year and all 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Only the even-numbered state senate seats are up for grabs in 2024.

In Nashville, voters will decide whether to increase the sales tax by half a cent to fund Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s $3.1 billion “Choose How You Move” transit improvement plan.

Voting opens at 7:00 a.m. CST and closes at 7:00 PM CST.

Results:

Stay tuned for live updates throughout the day.

Voters show up in force.

In the first four hours since polls opened in Nashville, the number has surpassed those who turned out in the first four hours of the last presidential election, Jeff Roberts, Davidson County’s election administrator, said by telephone Tuesday. Compared to 2016, however, the numbers are falling.

“It remains to be seen whether that will continue,” Roberts said.

Roberts said the Electoral Commission surveyed the largest 35 districts — one in each municipal district — to track their numbers.

As of 11 a.m. in the 35 precincts, 11,091 voters had cast their ballots in Nashville, Roberts said. In 2020, only 9,157 had cast their vote by 11.00, while 11,475 had cast their vote in 2016.

For many students in Middle Tennessee, Election Day is an opportunity to see the democratic process up close when their parents go to vote. For others, it’s just an extra day off.

Nashville and Wilson County public schools are closed today as many of their facilities serve as polling locations.

The teachers spend the day on professional development, while the voters file in and out of the buildings.

Alyssa Boyd, 20, knew she had to vote. Growing up with a mother who majored in political science in college, politics has never been a shy topic in their household.

“This is a very heated situation as far as people going against each other. I knew it was something I had to do,” Boyd said as she proudly placed her first vote badge on her shirt.

Both Boyd and her mother Jacie Boyd voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.

“I’m a very big fan of her policies, especially when it comes to like the child tax credit, and I just really think she would be incredibly helpful to our economy,” Alyssa Boyd said. “A lot of economists have said it was a much better plan than Donald Trump’s, so that’s really cool.”

For Jacie Boyd, the problems go beyond finances.

“I feel like when I look at the two platforms, one is more about allowing autonomy and I’m not just talking about reproductive freedoms and the other is very restrictive,” she said. “And I’m super scared of Christian nationalism, and I kind of feel like that’s where the direction is going in that party.”

—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean

As the sun rose on Nashville Tuesday, Jeremiah Rice and Ja’Nel Chase were already in their black camping chairs, the first two in line to vote at the Hermitage Library.

One of the busiest early voting locations, the library had a line in the parking lot before 1 p.m.

“I was late last time and learned from my mistake,” Rice said. “The last presidential election, the line was wrapped around the building when I got here at 7 o’clock.”

Chase, who is best friends with Rice’s wife, said she missed the early voting period.

“I knew he was going to be there early, so I called and said ‘I’ll see you there,'” she said. Rice didn’t think it was a ridiculous thing to show up more than an hour before the polls opened. duty is at stake.

“There are other countries out there where people can’t vote. People of different races, genders,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who you vote for, people died so we can exercise our right to vote.”

—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean

Polls in Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson and Montgomery counties open at 7.00, while in some counties they open at 8.00 or 9.00.

WeGo runs for free on election day

All Election Day rides on WeGo buses in Davidson County will be free, Mayor Freddie O’Connell said in a release. The transit app will provide available directions to the polls on Tuesday.

Help limit election day fraud

Voters can contact the Election Day hotline at 1-877-850-4959. Those who witness vote fraud are asked to text TN to 45995.

“Tennesseans should know their elections remain secure,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a statement Monday. “These numbers provide easy and direct access to election officials so voters can have confidence when they cast a ballot and know that any potential issues have been resolved.”

Will mail be delivered on election day?

Postmen and other parcel services deliver on election day. The USPS expects an increase in mail delivery on Election Day as it prepares to deliver ballots.

What is my polling place?

Voters must vote in their assigned precinct on Election Day.

Davidson County residents can use the county Polling place finder to identify their assigned polling place. Voters can also look up their polling place through Tennessee Secretary of State website.

What do I need to bring to vote? What IDs are acceptable?

Voters must present an ID with their name and photo to vote. An example of this is a Tennessee driver’s license. The following IDs are also acceptable, even if they are expired:

A US passport
A photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
A photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
A US military photo ID
A Tennessee gun carry permit with your photo

I forgot my ID. Can I still vote?

Yes. In the event that a voter cannot produce an acceptable form of ID, the voter will be issued a provisional ballot.

The voter then has two business days after election day to return to the election commission’s office and present valid photo identification. According to the Tennessee Secretary of State, when the voter returns to the election commission office, the voter will sign an affidavit and a copy of the voter’s photo ID will be made for review by the counting board.

Is it too late to register to vote in Tennessee?

Yes, Tennessee does not offer same-day voter registration. The last day to register to vote in Tennessee was October 7.