Welcome back to On the Ballot, your local newsletter about the 2024 general election and what’s going on in the Mid-South. 

 

Early voting is well underway, although initial vote totals in Shelby County are about 40% below what they were during the 2020 election up to this point. But some local voters did see lines at the polls during the first day of early voting. 

 

There have also been challenges with the area’s touch-screen voting machines, but election officials suggest using a stylus is the answer. 

 

Perhaps the most interesting local races are the state House seats in District 83 and 97 where two Democratic challengers are trying to unseat Republican incumbents. In these so-called purple districts, the challengers are trying to ride Vice President Kamala Harris’ expected momentum at the top of the ticket. On the other side, the incumbents must outperform former President Donald Trump in their precincts, as they have done before, to retain their seats. 

 

They’re definitely races to watch. 

 

For more election coverage or information about voting, visit https://dailymemphian.com/elections. During early voting and running through Nov. 5, The Daily Memphian’s local election coverage is free to all of our readers. 

 

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