Election Season Heats Up in Shelby County with Key Races and Measures on the Ballot!

Election Season Heats Up in Shelby County!

Hey there, Shelby County! It’s that exciting time of year again when we all get to have our say in who runs our government. This fall, we have a big-ticket race for the presidency, with Vice President Kamala Harris squaring off against former President Donald J. Trump. But wait, there’s more! There are plenty of local races and measures that you’ll need to think about before casting your vote on November 5.

The Bigger Picture: What’s on the Ballot?

As you glance at your ballot, you’ll notice that it’s packed with decisions! Aside from the presidential race, Shelby County voters have to choose their representatives in several local, state, and federal government posts. There’s a Tennessee U.S. Senate seat up for grabs, and every two years, we get to vote for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

For Tennessee, it’s also a crucial moment as we decide whether to send Sen. Marsha Blackburn back to Washington or give Gloria Johnson a chance to take the reins. Additionally, your ballot will feature representatives from U.S. House Districts 8 and 9. Current Rep. David Kustoff is in a tight race against Sarah Freeman, while Rep. Steve Cohen will once again be challenged by Charlotte Bergman.

State and Local Races: What to Expect

Local races are heating up, too! In Tennessee Senate District 30, incumbent Sen. Sara Kyle is going head-to-head with Independent candidate Mitchell Morrison. The highly competitive Tennessee House of Representatives District 83 contest features incumbent Mark White facing off against Noah Nordstrom. Other districts like 86, 88, and 93 will also see similar showdowns as incumbents defend their seats against various challengers.

If you live in the suburbs, get ready! There are some juicy races happening in places like Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington. For instance, Bartlett has multiple candidates vying for the Alderman Position 6 seat, including Kenneth Hayes and Kevin Quinn. Over in Collierville, the mayoral seat is up for grabs, and it’ll be either Maureen Frasier or Billy Patton taking the lead.

Memphis Voters Have Key Decisions to Make

Memphis voters have some interesting measures on their ballots. One hot topic is whether to amend the city charter for future mayoral candidates to have a two-year residency requirement. Currently, there’s no such requirement, and this has sparked a fair bit of debate. The backstory? A court ruling last year caused a previous five-year requirement to be thrown out!

In an interesting twist, the Memphis City Council intended to put some firearms-related measures on the ballot too, but this provoked backlash from state leaders who threatened to take away funding. After some legal tussles, these measures won’t be appearing this election. If you’re in Memphis, keep an ear out for the updates regarding various ballot measures.

Don’t Forget Important Dates!

Mark your calendars, folks! Here are some essential deadlines to keep in mind:

• Registration Deadline: October 7
• Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: October 29
• Early Voting: October 16-31

Stay Informed!

This election is shaping up to be a crucial one for our community and the country. Making informed decisions is key, so be sure to read up on the candidates, research their stances on issues that matter to you, and don’t hesitate to talk to your friends and family about the election.

If you have questions regarding the General Election on November 5, don’t hesitate to reach out. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the polls!