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    • What’s on the ballot? Where do I choose?
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    What’s on the ballot? Where do I choose?

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

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    Tennessee voters will head to the polls on Wednesday, October 16, as early voting begins in the 2024 general election.

    The Tennessee election will feature a number of high-profile races from Tennessee’s US presidential race. Senate election, competitive down-bottom election, and the Nashville transit referendum.

    Here’s what you need to know about early voting in Davidson County.

    Is it too late to register to vote?

    Yes. The voter registration deadline for the November 5th election was October 7th. To check your registration status, visit govotetn.com.

    Can I vote by postal vote?

    If you are registered and plan to vote by mail, the last day to request a mail-in ballot is October 29th. However, the Davidson County Election Commission recommends voters request a ballot sooner to account for mailing delays.

    Absentee voters must submit an application by mail, fax or email to their local county election commission office, located at https://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php.

    Voters can use the absentee request form on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.tn.gov.

    In Davidson County, voters can submit this form to the Davidson County Board of Elections. The Commission’s mailing address is PO Box 650, Nashville, TN 37202 and its email address is [email protected].

    However, not everyone is entitled to vote by post. According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, you are eligible to vote by mail if:

    • You are sixty (60) years of age or older.
    • You will be outside the county in which you are registered during the early voting period and throughout the day on Election Day.
    • You are hospitalized, sick or physically disabled and cannot show up at your polling station to vote. A medical certificate is not required to check this box.
    • You look after a person who is in hospital, sick or disabled. A medical certificate is not required to check this box.
    • You or your spouse are a full-time student at an accredited college or university outside the county in which you are enrolled.
    • You live in a nursing home, an assisted living facility or a retirement home outside your country of residence.
    • You are a candidate for office in the election.
    • You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during early voting and on Election Day.
    • You are an official or a member or employee of the electoral commission on election day.
    • Due to jury duty, you cannot vote in person.
    • You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling station.
    • You or your spouse have a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) and you will be working outside the state or county in which you are registered during early voting hours and Election Day and have no specific out – Address within the county or abroad to which mail can be sent or received during this time.
    • You are a military member or foreign citizen.
    • You are on the permanent absence list.

    What’s on the ballot?

    Here’s a look at the major party races and candidates on the ballot this fall.

    A sample ballot for Davidson County can be found here.

    president: Voters have the option of voting for the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, or the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Independent and third-party candidates are also on the ballot.

    US Senate: This race is the only statewide contest on the ballot. Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, is facing a challenge from state Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville. Blackburn is the favorite in what is now a solidly red state with low voter turnout. No Democrat has won statewide since 2006, and only one Democrat has cracked 40% of the vote since then. A Johnson victory is an uphill battle, but many will be eager to see whether she can harness the energy of gun safety reform to improve Democratic margins and potentially show progressives the way forward in future election cycles in Tennessee.

    US House of Representatives: In the Nashville area, three Republican incumbents are seeking re-election for the first time since the state’s Republicans redistricted congressional districts in 2020. In the 7th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, faces a well-funded challenge from former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat. In the 5th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, faces a Democratic challenge from local organizer Maryam Abolfazli. U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, faces a less prominent challenge in the 6th District from Democrat Lore Bergman.

    State House: Several competitive races take place in the Davidson County area.

    • In House District 50, Metro Council member Jennifer Frensely Webb, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville.
    • In House District 52, incumbent Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, faces Republican Laura Nelson.
    • In House District 53, incumbent Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, faces Republican Yog Nepal.
    • House District 60, which stretches across the eastern edge of Davidson County around Old Hickory, is up for grabs given the departure of current Rep. Darren Jernigan, who is leaving to take a job with Metro Nashville. Democrat Shaundelle Brooks, a gun safety reform activist, faces Republican Chad Bobo, a former aide to House Speaker Cameron Sexton, in the race for the seat.

    State Senate: In Senate District 20, incumbent Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, faces Republican Wyatt Rampy for the Senate district that includes much of Davidson County. Republicans are hoping to take the seat back into the GOP fold after Campbell unseated a Republican from the seat in 2020, the last hold the GOP had in Davidson County’s legislative delegation.

    Nashville public transit referendum: Davidson County voters will approve Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s $3.1 billion “Choose How You Move” referendum, which would raise the sales tax by half a cent to support major upgrades to the bus system, to finance sidewalks and traffic signals.

    Where and when can I vote early in Nashville?

    Early voting begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday. All early voting locations will be open throughout the early voting period for the November 5 election.

    With early voting, voters can cast their vote at any open polling station. Poll workers will ask for your address in order to send you the correct ballot.

    • Bellevue Library at 720 Baugh Road, Nashville
    • Bordeaux Library at 4000 Clarksville Pike, Nashville
    • Casa Azafrán Community Center at 2195 Nolensville Pike, Nashville
    • Edmondson Pike Library at 5501 Edmondson Pike, Nashville
    • Goodlettsville Library at 205 Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville
    • Green Hills Library, 3701 Benham Avenue, Nashville
    • Hermitage Library at 3700 James Kay Lane, Hermitage
    • Hillwood High School, 6215 Hickory Valley Road, Nashville
    • Lentz Public Health Center at 2500 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville
    • Madison Library, 610 Gallatin Pike South, Madison
    • Metro office building at 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, Nashville
    • South Inglewood Community Center, 1624 Rebecca Street, Nashville
    • Southeast Library, 5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway, Antioch

    Here are the hours for these locations from October 16th to 31st.

    • Wednesday, October 16th: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
    • Thursday, Oct. 17: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m
    • Friday, October 18th: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
    • Saturday, Oct. 19: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
    • Monday, October 21st: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
    • Tuesday, Oct. 22: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m
    • Wednesday, October 23rd: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
    • Thursday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m
    • Friday, October 25th: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
    • Saturday, Oct. 26: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
    • Monday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
    • Tuesday, October 29th: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m
    • Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
    • Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m

    Do I need to bring a photo ID to vote in Nashville, Tennessee?

    Yes. Voters in Tennessee must bring a valid photo ID, which may include a driver’s license or photo ID issued by the state of Tennessee, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military photo ID, or a Tennessee photo carry handgun permit.

    Student ID cards, city or county issued ID cards, and out-of-state photo ID cards are not accepted.

    You do not need to bring your voter ID card to vote.

    Which ballot paper will I have?

    There will be a general election ballot, and poll workers will make sure you have the correct ballot.

    If you would like to see what the ballot will look like before you go to the polls, Davidson County has sample ballots available here.

    To update your political party: What you should know before early voting and the presidential election

    Can I leave my job to vote in Nashville?

    Employers are required to provide their employees with paid time off to vote if they have been notified in advance.

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    Eira Gwyneth
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