Voting is vital to a democracy. It’s a reminder that through the political mudslinging that occurs, the people still have the final say. And in 2024, you might as well say we’ll be in the middle of a mud storm.
The harsh reality is that the message of democracy and service given by the right to vote mostly falls flat in Tennessee.
In the 2022 midterm elections, only 38% of registered voters in the state exercised their right to vote, the first time the percentage fell below 40% since 2014. That year only 35% of registered voters cast their ballots.
We also live in a state where automatic voter registration is not permitted. Tennessee is one of just 15 states that implements the maximum voter registration deadline window, requiring citizens to register 30 days before an election. Other states have deadlines closer to election day or allow same-day registration.
It is why National Voter Registration Day, which is Tuesday, is so important.