What you need to know for Tuesday’s primaries
Elimination races for countywide offices are Tuesday as voters go to the polls to select party representatives for the general election in August.
The primaries feature the major county offices, highlighted by the mayor’s race to replace incumbent Mark Luttrell, who is not seeking reelection because of term limits. Lee Harris and Sidney Chism are vying for the Democratic nod, while three candidates — David Lenoir, Terry Roland and Joy Touliatos — are on the Republican side of the ballot.
The rest of the slate includes a variety of court clerk positions from criminal to circuit to probate. All 13 seats on the county Board of Commissioners are on the ballot along with county assessor, trustee, register of deeds, county clerk and sheriff.
The winners in the separate primaries will face each other in the Aug. 2 county general elections. While voters countywide are allowed to vote for most offices in their selected primary, there are commission district races for specific areas of the county.
Party primaries traditionally don’t draw a lot of attention, particularly without a race like president or governor on the ballot. Election Commission officials were concerned until Thursday’s final day of early voting that the interest was lower than anticipated. A spike on the last day eased a bit of the concern regarding voter apathy.
Linda Phillips, administrator of elections, thinks the total from early voting and Election Day could reach 14 percent of the registered voters. “We always plan for a lot higher turnout than we get,” she said, “and I’d be delighted to see many more votes than we expect on Election Day.”
Many answers regarding Election Day are addressed on the Shelby County Election Commission website.
Some specific things to know on Election Day:
Tuesday, May 1. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Unlike early voting period where voters can vote at any of the 21 locations around the county, Election Day voters must appear at their specific precinct. There are 166 precincts across the county, and the Election Commission website has a tool where you can put in your address and it will show the precinct where you vote.
WHEN: WHERE: PRECINCT CHANGES:
Eight precincts have new locations, according to Election Commission officials.
❚ 17-00: Memphis Leadership Foundation has moved to Missisippi Boulevard Christian Church, 70 N. Bellevue Blvd.
❚ 87-03: Holy Nation Ministries shifts to East Side Baptist Church, 3232 Covington Pike.
❚ 89-01: Immanuel Lutheran Church now votes at Good Shepherd UMC, 6050 Summer Ave.
❚ FOR-01: Harvest Church changes to St. Mark’s UMC, 8255 Winchester Ave.
❚ BAR-03: Altruria Elementary School now votes at Bartlett Baptist Church, 3565 Kirby Whitten Road.
❚ BAR-04: Moves from Ellendale Elementary School to 7217 Centralia Road, Bartlett.
❚ ROS-15: East Win Christian Church will now move to Greater Love Baptist Church, 4439 Hacks Cross Road.
❚ 33-00: Caritas Community changes to Caritas Artists House, 2510 Harvard Ave.
WHAT YOU NEED:
You don’t need your voter registation card (so you can stop rooting through the dresser drawer hunting for it), but you will need a photo ID issued by a state or the federal government. That means your local library card, gym membership or grocery card for gas points won’t get you in the polling booth.
PICK A PARTY:
Because this is the primary election to select the candidates to run in the August general, voters must declare for a Democratic or Republican ballot. You cannot vote in both primaries. Only one per customer, please. A voter’s selection is only for this primary. In Tennessee, you are not required to declare for a party affiliation. And, declaring for a particular party doesn’t require you to stick with that party for future primaries. You can switch back and forth.
WHO WON?:
The Election Commission website will have the results as they are tallied after the polls close at 7 p.m.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Election Commission website — shelbyvote.com — can provide answers to many questions regarding precinct locations and requirements. Additionally, results are available on the site some time after the polls close at 7 p.m.