Do endorsement ballots work? Politicians differ
Candidates in Memphis share views on flyers
The paper sample endorsement ballots that are handed out like candy at Memphis polling places have been an election season staple for decades. They are described by candidates as an essential, if at times distasteful, part of getting elected in Memphis.
The Commercial Appeal investigated one particular ballot that drew legal scrutiny and an ensuing restraining order — produced by the Greater Memphis Democratic Club.
In doing so, it spoke with eight candidates on that ballot. Those conversations opened a dialogue about the broader practice of using the flyers that push a particular slate of candidates.
Candidates spent tens of thousands of dollars this election season to appear on the endorsement ballots and for the cost of distributing them, according to interviews and campaign finance filings.
Some candidates describe the payments as a means of securing their place on the ballot; others argue it’s just covering the cost of printing and distribution.
Beyond the Greater Memphis Democratic Club ballot and a similar one produced by Latroy Williams, a slew of current and former elected officials had their own ballots. Former city councilwoman and current Shelby County Juvenile Court Clerk Janis Fullilove, State Reps. Antonio Parkinson and Barbara Cooper, and former Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford each produced a ballot.
Nearly all the candidates interviewed felt compelled to participate in the practice because, if they didn’t, they thought their opponents would. They also noted that ballots are a means of splitting the cost of an advertisement with other candidates.
“At least half of the reason that we participated in the ballots was to keep my opponents off the ballots. Because if we had turned down the offer to be on the ballots, they might’ve gone to another candidate,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
Strickland said his campaign paid for the costs of three ballots this campaign, including one, made by Greg Grant and the Greater Memphis Democratic Club, that was the subject of an election day restraining order. He also contributed to the cost of the Ford and Parkinson ballots, he said.
“I wanted to be on them because it’s just like marketing. You want to put your face and name any place you can,” said Sherman Greer, the District 1 councilman who is in a Nov. 14 runoff election against Rhonda Logan.
Greer appeared on the Greater Memphis Democratic Club ballot.
Strickland, the former chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party, said he did not believe the Grant ballot mislead voters by implying a Shelby County Democratic Party endorsement.
“I haven’t really sat down and studied each of the ballots, how they look and so forth. My memory is it does say Democratic Club, not Democratic Party. I believe it has said the same thing for many elections,” said Strickland.
“It does not appear to me to be misleading, but if a judge said it was misleading on election day, I’m not going to disagree with the judge.”
Cheyenne Johnson, who also appeared on the Greater Memphis Democratic Club ballot, said she was unsure if it purported to show an endorsement that didn’t exist.
“That’s a tough one to address. I don’t think I have enough facts. That’s been raised before … I don’t necessarily think that they’re saying the Democratic Club,” Johnson said. “I don’t think they’re making that claim … with the party or anything.” Patrice Robinson, another council member who appeared on the Democratic Club ballot said she thinks voters in her district, which includes much of Whitehaven, understand the practice.
“I can’t say that all voters understand, but most voters in my district are educationally inclined to understand who people are representing and what organizations are out there because they get out of their cars and ask for a particular ballot,” Robinson said.
“They know. I can’t attest to that in anybody else’s district.”
Greer, a Democrat who worked for former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., said he didn’t find the Greater Memphis Democratic Club ballot misleading.
“To me, it’s just a marketing piece that you just put your name on,” Greer said.
Strickland noted that the Democratic Club ballot wasn’t the only one distributed during election season and that multiple poll workers often greet voters with an array of ballots that get brought to the voting machine. The proliferation has given him pause about how useful they are.
“I’ve often wondered if that’s really effective.”
J. Ford Canale, the Super District 9-2 councilman who appeared on the Democratic Club ballot and others, is not a fan of the practice overall.
“I’ll be totally honest with you. I think all the ballots are confusing and I think all of them can be unfortunate,” Canale said. “I think voters should do their own homework.”
Worth Morgan, the District 5 councilman, believes ballots are essential for voters.
He also appeared on the Democratic Club ballot and actively sought to be on the Shelby County Republican Party ballot.
“One of the big problems we have in local elections is voter education,” Morgan said.
“There are a lot of voters that use ballots. We know it’s effective in terms of campaign strategy. The voters use them because it helps them simplify the issue or they know what’s important to them and they trust others.”
Johnson is unsure if voters put any stock in the Greater Memphis Democratic Club ballot given how many different ballots voters were greeted with at the polls.
“I don’t know if they even look at (it) so much as Democratic as much as a ballot,” Johnson said.
“Technology has changed (the number of ballots). I also am beginning to question what weight the ballot will have in the future being that so many people can mass produce them pretty cheap … What does it actually mean at this point? I have no idea.”