Here is everything you need to know about how to vote early ahead of the Aug. 1 election day in Shelby County.

Early voting opens Friday, July 12, in an election cycle that was much different four years ago due to COVID-19. The pandemic is over, but it’s still complicating turnout predictions for the Aug. 1 ballot.

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Ballot Basics: Early voting July 12-27

As early voting opens Friday, July 12, here is a look at the primaries for the two Congressional districts that cover Shelby County and the race for one of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats.

Longtime Tennessee Sen. Sara Kyle faces a Democratic primary challenger on the August ballot — Erika Stotts Pearson, a perennial candidate for higher office.

The Republican primary winner is likely to face a spirited general-election challenge. State House District 97, which includes parts of East Memphis and Bartlett, is among the most competitive in the state. 

The Cordova-based state House seat is the only Shelby County seat with no incumbent. With no Republican or independent contenders, the August Democratic primary will determine who gets the seat.

Four sitting Memphis school board members face challengers in the upcoming election, including District 2 representative and MSCS board chair Althea Greene. She is facing Natalie McKinney, a public critic of the district’s superintendent search process, and pastor Ernest Gillespie III.

Here is what the two contenders for General Sessions Court clerk told The Daily Memphian about their qualifications to be the next clerk of the largest court system in the state.

Here is what the two contenders for General Sessions Court clerk told The Daily Memphian about what they each would do if they win the Aug. 1 election.

Lisa Arnold and Tami Sawyer are the candidates in the only countywide race on the Aug. 1 ballot. The election will mean a change in the administrator and records keeper for the state’s largest court system.

Related stories:

Lisa Arnold, Tami Sawyer on their plans if elected General Sessions Court clerk

Lisa Arnold, Tami Sawyer on their qualifications for General Sessions Court clerk

The Memphis suburb’s mayor’s seat, three alderman positions and two Arlington Community Schools (ACS) board offices are on this year’s town ballot.

A three-term Collierville alderman will not run in the next election, saying the timing is right to spend more time with family. 

For Memphis newcomers, the idea of an “alien prince” who calls the Bluff City home may seem stranger than fiction. During his brushes with the law and various elections, Mongo would often wear green body paint, a silver wig and a loincloth — but never any shoes. 

Chalkbeat asked Danielle Huggins, Frank Johnson, Towanna Murphy and Jason Sharif about their platforms for the upcoming Memphis Shelby County Schools board race. 

Early voting begins July 12 in important Shelby County races. To help you prepare, The Daily Memphian is starting a series of articles taking a closer look at the Aug. 1 election ballot.

Ten races in the August election were decided at the April 12 deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions. In these 10 races, those who filed are unopposed.

A trio of candidates have emerged in the early stages of the Nov. 5 race for the Position 6 alderman’s seat in Bartlett, with two people challenging the incumbent.

Germantown’s judge race features two lifelong Germantown residents.

Fifteen candidates for school board, state House and U.S. House seats — including two incumbents — spoke at an election forum Thursday night.

Candidates for suburban races in the Nov. 5 election continue to pull petitions with an interest in various government and school board offices.

Candidates for suburban races on the Nov. 5 ballot began seeking signatures on the petitions this week to run for office.

Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips talks on the “On The Record” podcast about the upcoming August elections and voter turnout. 

The five ballot questions to go on the Aug. 1 ballot didn’t make the deadline for public notice. There was no City Council vote to move them to November.

The seat is open after Jon McCreery decided not to seek reelection. Candidates can begin pulling petitions for the November election next week.

One Germantown alderman shared he does not plan to seek reelection. However, he plans to remain engaged in the suburb and continue to serve its residents.