New voters applauded
High number of first-timers illustrates uncertainty of election as early voting ends in Tennessee
If there was one sound that symbolized Thursday, the final day of early voting in Shelby County, it was election workers greeting first-time voters by bursting into applause.
Among the new voters was 31-year-old Jeff Hicks, who said the events of this year prompted him to come to Abundant Grace Fellowship Church in Whitehaven and vote for the first time.
“I don’t think it was like one thing — just a culmination of things,” he said, a cloth pulled up over his face as a precaution against COVID-19. “Kind of like how the rain falls and it begins a flood — it’s like every drop.”
Hicks, who works at the Fedex hub and drives a machine known as a tug, said he’s interested in Black Lives Matter, abortion rights and economic issues. He said he’s not living in poverty, but doesn’t consider himself middle class, either.
How did he end up voting?
“I can’t tell you that.”
The presence of numerous new voters like Hicks on Thursday illustrates just how much about this election is still uncertain, especially in tight state legislative races in Memphis-area districts. Increased voter turnout in Shelby County, a Democratic stronghold, could swing some races.
Early voting numbers remain strong; unknown if turnout will break 2008 record
As of Wednesday night, a total of nearly 305,000 people had voted early in person or by mail in Shelby County.
With Thursday early voting scheduled to con
tinue until late into the evening, plus election day itself, it appeared the county might exceed the modern total turnout record of about 398,000 set during Barack Obama’s win in the 2008 presidential contest.
Bennie Smith, a Democratic member of the Shelby County Election Commission, has run his own analysis of the data and studied those who registered to vote since 2016 and have already voted early. The number of new voters in that category is about 48,000.
That said, he cautions against reading too much into the new voters: most of the people who have cast ballots so far in Shelby County are reliable voters who show up every time.
“What’s happening is the majority of the people are just getting it out of the way,” he said, adding this suggests a light turnout on Election Day itself.
Two other first-time voters at the Whitehaven site, 18-year-old college students Bethany Hunt and Charis Jackson, said they voted for Joe Biden and other Democrats. The young women are best friends, and Charis Jackson’s father, Courtney Jackson, 43, a construction project manager, brought them to the polls.
Hunt said she was in ninth grade in 2016 when Trump was elected. “I knew that this time around I would be old enough to vote . . . I felt it was my time to vote and try to make a change.”
On down-ballot races, including for state legislature, she said she knew less about the candidates and voted for Democrats.
Another young voter, Josiah Ware, 23, who works in real estate and day trading, said he’d voted before, but never before in a presidential election. Outside the voting area, he told a reporter that he chose Biden. He said he wasn’t sure which candidate he’d picked for the state legislature, but remembered it was a Democrat.
The increased turnout for the presidential race might help Democrats in close state legislative races, said Michael Harris, chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party.
“Particularly I think that increased voter turnout overall looks really promising for our Democrats running in our battle districts, which are 83, 90 and 97,” Harris aid.
In Tennessee House District 83, a suburban district in eastern Shelby County, Jerri Green, a Memphis Democrat, seeks to unseat incumbent Mark White, a Germantown Republican.
In Tennessee House District 90, which covers a swath of the middle of the city, Democrat Torrey Harris is challenging John Deberry, a longtime incumbent who is running as an independent this year.
In Tennessee House District 97, another suburban district in eastern Shelby County, Democrat Gabby Salinas is challenging Republican incumbent John Gillespie.
Asked about the District 97 race in particular, Chris Tutor, chairman of the Republican party of Shelby County, said. “I think that could be a close election but that district is historically in Republican hands. And I think that John is much more reflective of voters in that center-right district.”
In statewide races, Republicans are favorites
At New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Germantown, a prosperous, mostly white area, heavy campaigning for state legislative as well as municipal and school board races was underway outside — about 4:30 p.m., voters faced a gauntlet of candidates and their backers handing out fliers and asking for support.
The line inside was about 10 deep. Scott Hill emerged from voting with his wife and young daughter, wearing an “I voted” sticker on his face mask. He described the voting experience as “fast, quick, easy, friendly.”
Hill, a 55-year-old owner of a landscaping company, said he voted for Trump. “Just his policies and his outlook on right to life, borders, just a great economy. Tax cuts.” He said he also supported other Republican candidates, including Senate candidate Bill Hagerty and White.
Statewide, the state’s 11 electoral college votes are expected to go to President Trump.
One person trying to overcome those odds is Marquita Bradshaw, an environmental activist who won an upset in the Democratic primary earlier this year and now runs against Republican Hagerty for an open U.S. Senate seat. The polling web site fivethirtyeight.com gives Bradshaw less than a 1% chance of winning.
Tutor, the Republican chairman, predicted a blowout win for Hagerty.
Harris, the Democratic chairman, expressed cautious optimism.
“We think that what is happening in Shelby County - if it is materializing into a stronger Democratic turnout - and we’re seeing increased numbers across the state - then we could possibly bridge that gap and end up in a closer race than what it may seem. but we’re not in denial that it’s an uphill battle.”
Speaking with reporters after voting at Glenview Community Center on Lamar Avenue, Bradshaw likewise sounded a positive note. “We are coming together. We will win.”
Moments later, applause broke out from the voting room a few feet away. Poll workers were celebrating another new voter.
Investigative reporter Daniel Connolly welcomes tips and comments. Reach him at 529-5296 or daniel.connolly@ commercialappeal.com.