Tennessee

When is the last day for early voting in Tennessee? What are the totals so far?

Published

2 years ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

When is the last day for early voting in Tennessee? What are the totals so far?

Today is the last day of early voting. Those who don’t cast a ballot today must wait until Election Day, Nov. 5.

Early and absentee voting numbers are robust this year.

In the first 12 days of voting in 2020, 140,685 early and absentee votes were cast in Knox County. In 12 days in 2024, there were 142,356.

The divide looks like this: 135,971 early voters and 6,385 absentee ballots as of Oct. 29.

Knox County early voting totals by party

We don’t know and we never will.

In Tennessee, voters don’t have to declare a party when they register, which means officials can’t track votes by party.

Some states, including Florida, require voters to choose a political party when they register. They can only vote in that party’s primary elections, and that party affiliation follows them to the general election. That’s how we know for sure there are more Republicans voting early in some other states.

Where can I learn about the candidates?

Before you cast your ballot, whether early or on Election Day, the Knox News Voter’s Guide at knoxnews.com lets you check out who the local candidates are and what they say about the issues.

Can I still register to vote in the 2024 election?

No, the voter registration deadline has passed.

How to check if you’re registered to vote in Tennessee

Check tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup to determine whether you are already registered.

How do I register for an absentee ballot in Tennessee?

That deadlines has passed as well.

Where is early voting in Knox County?

The early voting ends today. During that time, registered voters can go to any early voting location on any day or time it is open.

Here are Knox County early voting locations:

Carter Senior Center, 9040 Asheville Highway
City-County Building, 400 Main St.
Downtown West, 1645 Downtown West Blvd., Unit 40
Eternal Life Harvest Center at Five Points, 2410 Martin Luther King Ave. (next to Love Kitchen)
Gibbs Ruritan Club, 7827 Tazewell Pike
Halls Recreation Center, 6933 Recreation Lane
Karns Senior Center, 8042 Oak Ridge Highway
Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane
Meridian Baptist Church, 6513 Chapman Highway
University of Tennessee (Baker School), 1640 Cumberland Ave.
Village Green Shopping Center (Old Stein Mart), 11437 Kingston Pike in Farragut

What are early voting hours?

Hours vary depending on the day and place you vote.

Early voting hours for Carter Senior Center, City-County Building, Downtown West, Eternal Life Harvest Center at Five Points, Gibbs Ruritan Club, Halls Recreation Center, Knoxville Expo Center, New Harvest Park and Village Green Shopping Center:

Early voting hours for Meridian Baptist:

Early voting hours for Karns Senior Center:

Early voting hours for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville:

When is Election Day?

Election Day is Nov. 5.

Polls will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. If you arrive at your polling site before 8 p.m. and have to wait in line past that time, you may still vote if you stay in line.

Where do I vote on Election Day?

On Nov. 5, you must vote at your registered polling place. Check your address at the Voting location search button at kgis.org.

Some polling locations may have changed since the 2022 election due to redistricting, so voters are advised to double check if they decide to wait to vote on Election Day.

Do I have to show an ID to vote?

Yes, you do.

These forms of identification are acceptable, even if they are expired:

Tennessee driver’s license with your photo
Passport
Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee government
Military photo ID
Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg

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Tennessee

Memphis voters file federal lawsuit against new congressional map, claiming discrimination: ‘White control over Tennessee politics’

Published

11 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

Memphis voters file federal lawsuit against new congressional map, claiming discrimination: ‘White control over Tennessee politics’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WSMV) – Three Memphis voters, through the American Civil Liberties Union, have filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee leaders, claiming the state’s new congressional maps are discriminating against Black voters.

The ACLU announced the lawsuit on Monday, saying that three organizations — the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, the Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Equity Alliance, are also part of the lawsuit that was filed against Sec. of State Tre Hargett, Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins and several others.

“In May 2026, over the course of mere days, a White-dominated supermajority of the Tennessee General Assembly redrew Tennessee’s congressional map to crack the predominantly Black city of Memphis into three pieces and destroy the only district in which Black voters are able to elect representatives of their choice, shutting Black voters completely out of power in federal elections in Tennessee,” the filing states.

The ACLU and the other plaintiffs echo arguments made by Democrats while the maps were being debated during last week’s special session: “The cracking of Memphis unlawfully targeted Black voters.”

“The new plan carves through the center of Tennessee’s second largest city, dividing neighborhoods that have voted together for decades, splitting numerous counties and precincts, and cutting the Black population into thirds with suspect precision,” the lawsuit says. “The districts then run hundreds of miles east towards the Nashville suburbs, snaking through predominantly White and rural counties to dilute the voting power of now-divided Black Memphians.”

Gov. Bill Lee signed the new congressional map into law last week. The new map splits Shelby County, home of Memphis, into three districts.

Republicans have said the map modernizes the districting process and removes “racial data from the mapmaking process entirely.” Democrats, on the other hand, say that the move is meant to dismantle the Black-majority district.

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R) told WSMV that Republicans “have been very clear” on their intention to secure a ninth Republican seat in the state. He has said the map would help “ensure the state’s representation in Washington reflects its conservative values.”

The lawsuit draws significant attention to the racial makeup of Tennessee lawmakers, describing, “White control over Tennessee politics.” Plaintiffs allege that a white majority “faction” of state leaders “gave bizarre, robotic answers to the most basic questions about the map they were sponsoring.”

“None of the sponsors of the plan would admit who actually drew it, and the lead Senate sponsor—a White legislator with over a decade of service in the Tennessee General Assembly who had attended law school in Memphis — would not say whether Memphis was predominantly Black and claimed not to know that Congressional District 9 was a majority- Black district,” the filing says.

They seem to be referencing Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), who was asked during the special session if he was aware that the majority of the residents in the ninth district are Black.

“I’m not aware,” he responded. “I know how the map is divided, but I don’t know the racial makeup of the map.”

Stevens got his juris doctorate from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

The three Memphis residents who took part in the lawsuit are Amber Sherman, a lifelong resident of Memphis and the lead Tennessee regional organizer for Black Voters Matter Fund, Rachael Spriggs, a Memphis resident for more than 20 years who is the director of Power Building for the Equity Alliance, and Kermit Moore, a nearly lifelong resident of Memphis who is the president of the Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute.

The lawsuit claims intentional discrimination in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments, as well as retaliation for protected expression and association in violation of the First Amendment.

Plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that the newly drawn map is unconstitutional and restore district lines before primary elections proceed.

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Tennessee

New Tennessee law allows K9 officers to be transported by helicopter, ambulance to vet

Published

23 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

New Tennessee law allows K9 officers to be transported by helicopter, ambulance to vet

Tennessee State Senators Michele Reneau of Signal Mountain and Bo Watson of Hixson spoke today about the new law supporting police K-9’s.

The act allows injured dogs to get stabilization services on-site and then be transported via ambulance or helicopter to a vet hospital.

“In the past, officers were basically putting the k9 in their car and transporting them in their in their own vehicle, they didn’t have an ambulance or an air ambulance,” said Senator Watson. “This allows for an air ambulance. It also allows for a educational program for those in EMS, who will be taught how to manage canines emergency medical condition, which is different than a human’s.”

In April, Erlanger flew a K9 officer from Clay County, to North Carolina.

It was the first time the program was used for a live transport after several training runs.

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Tennessee

What You Need to Know About Tennessee Softball’s Path to Another WCWS | Rocky Top Insider

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

What You Need to Know About Tennessee Softball’s Path to Another WCWS | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee softball’s path back to the Women’s College World Series is set. On Sunday night, the Lady Vols were named the No. 7 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will host the regional stage in Knoxville as it looks to return to the WCWS in back-to-back seasons.

The Lady Vols are matched up with Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky in the regionals. It would play Georgia, Clemson, UNC Greensboro or Charleston in the super regionals.

Ahead of the tournament, here’s a look at each team in the Knoxville Regional and potential matchups for the ensuing best-of-three super regional if Tennessee advances.