Voters across the region showed off their “I Voted” stickers, criticized the election process, and weighed in on Gov. Bill Lee online.

Shelby County turnout up to noon Tuesday was quiet but steady, according to election officials. There were some poll book problems at the outset. Campaign literature on both sides of the partisan divide turned up at sign in tables at at least two polling places in the county Tuesday morning.

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Ballot Basics: Election Day Nov. 8, 2022

The ballot features a statewide race for governor and questions about voter interest as well as the county’s balance between Republicans and Democrats.

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Early voters’ numbers hint at Election Day turnout

Ballot Basics: Election Day Nov. 8, 2022

Here is everything you need to know about the voting process for Tuesday’s Election Day in Shelby County.

More than 120,000 Shelby County voters cast early or absentee ballots during the 14-day early voting period that ended Nov. 3. Here’s what it might mean for total turnout including who shows up at the polls on election day.

A seat on the Memphis City Council and one of three divisions of Memphis City Court are the special election races on the November ballot. The council race will also determine if there is a runoff in December.

One in five Black Tennesseans do not have the right to vote due to a prior felony conviction, according to a 2020 study.

CoreCivic gave $107,490 to Tennessee politicians and PACs from July to September, the majority going to incumbent Republicans. The company has stayed in business despite a high murder rate and accusations of underinvestment in safety.

Collierville was the last stop on the governor’s three-day campaign bus tour. Lee’s supporters, plus some opponents of the “Right to Work” amendment to the state constitution, came out to greet him.

The Shelby County Election Commission found the problem Monday and did a review of the other 25 early voting sites before determining it was an isolated incident involving the wrong Congressional race.

Financial disclosures sometimes shed light on who is backing candidates in the non-partisan race.

Thursday is the last day to vote early ahead of next Tuesday’s election day, as congressmen David Kustoff and Steve Cohen predict who will control the House. Plus: Notes on school funding, MLGW and the first mayoral forum.

A challenge to a six-month residency rule by a Mason, Tennessee, mayoral candidate came with a ruling last month that could revive a five-year residency requirement in the Memphis mayoral race.

“Brent’s experiences have equipped him to make a positive impact in the state Senate. He will be the voice in the Tennessee legislature desperately needed for Shelby County.”

Hernando officials have prepared a list of frequently asked questions to clarify the use of a 1% tax on prepared foods.

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Hernando to vote on 1% tax for parks

Hernando voters will consider adding a 1% tax to prepared foods, such as restaurants and delis, to help fund an improved parks program in the DeSoto County city.

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The funding is for a marketing firm to work with the Election Commission to not only explain the new voting system to voters, but also chart the areas of low voter turnout across the county.

The East Memphis district is one of only a handful where Tennessee Democrats think they have a chance to gain ground in the Republican-dominated General Assembly.

The new hybrid voting system allows hand-marked paper ballots or voting on a touch-screen machine. Mulroy expressed concern that the Shelby County Election Commission was not following through on its compromise to use both voting systems. 

Two seats of the DeSoto County School Board will be elected in November, one of the offices to replace longtime politician Milton Nichols.

“In the name of individual freedom, these business interest groups wish to create different classes of workers to keep them pitted against each other instead of working in harmony for improved conditions in the workplace.”

At a Shelby County Young Democrats forum, Joe Brown, Van Turner and Paul Young talked about name recognition, experience, crime, Black business ownership and, in one case, how women have no place in the mayor’s race. 

How to handle crime in Memphis will dominate Bonner’s mayoral platform. Meanwhile, another contender in the race told supporters Tuesday the next mayor shouldn’t be someone who will “keep us steady”

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Sheriff officially running for mayor

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. joined the early forming field for Memphis mayor Tuesday, Oct. 25, with a formal announcement from Clark Tower. 

“I’m fully aware of the arguments against voting. It’s a waste of time. It won’t change anything. No time to vote. Can’t trust any of them. My candidate won’t win anyway. But our lives are affected by the people we vote into office.”