Voting Problems During Early Voting

Posted on: 10:22 pm, July 16, 2012, by Michele Reese, updated on: 12:05am, July 17, 2012

(Shelby County) Several voting problems have been reported across Shelby County.

Many residents telling us there were problems with their ballots.

They say they weren’t able to vote for the school referendum, an issue that has voters fired up.

“I have a four-year old daughter starting school next year so the school referendum was really important to us,” Megan Binger said.

But several people like Binger didn’t get to vote on it. She says when she went to her polling location in Millington, the school issue was missing from the ballot.

“I was confused and I did get mad,” she said. “I pay city taxes and live in the city limits and you’re telling me I couldn’t vote it just didn’t make sense.”

Voter frustrations were also felt in Bartlett.

“They stripped me of my constitutional right,” Bartlett resident Lloyd Cornmesser said.”I’m 60 years old and this is the most fired up I’ve ever been.”

He’s irate he too couldn’t vote on the school measure.

“I asked a poll worker and was informed not all Bartlett residents were allowed to vote on the issue,” he said.

So he started emailing the Shelby County Election Commission, but says he got nowhere.

“The more emails I sent the more fired up I got,” he said. “I went into my garage and made this sign and I’ve been holding the sign since noon.”

By mid-afternoon problems were arising in Collierville too. The city of Collierville sent a press release warning newly annexed residents to hold off on early voting because the school referendum wasn’t on their ballots either.

“The Elections Administrator confirmed their attempt to include the annexation in Collierville’s Municipal School District referendum is not working, resulting in the referendums not being on the ballot,” the release read.

The Election Commission said the problems were fewer than they appear.

“We’ve had reports of very few problems,” Elections Commission Chairman Robert Meyers said.

He offered this advice to voters.

“Before they press the green vote problem please bring any questions or issue to the election officials at that location,” he said.

That’s important because once you cast a vote you cannot cast another one.

In Tennessee, in addition to being a registered vote, you will need a valid photo ID.

Acceptable Photo IDs for Voting: Any of the following IDs may be used, even if expired:

Tennessee drivers license with your photo
United States Passport
Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Photo ID issued by the federal or ANY state government
United States Military photo ID
State-issued handgun carry permit with your photo

Photo IDs NOT Accepted for Voting: College student IDs and photo IDs not issued by the federal or a state government are NOT acceptable.

For a complete detailing of the Tennessee State http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/photoID.htm

Absentee Option for Age 60+: The absentee voting law and requirements in Tennessee changed in 2012 to allow anyone 60 years of age or older to request and vote absentee. This means that someone who is 60+ who decides to not obtain a photo ID or who for some reason is unable to obtain a photo ID, can still vote as long as they are registered.

Voters are reminded that written requests for an absentee ballot should be sent to the Shelby County Election Commission at 980 Nixon Drive, Memphis, TN 38134.

Requests for an absentee ballot are accepted no more than ninety (90) days and not less than seven (7) days before an election. Applications must be in the office seven (7) days before any election, and requests or applications received after this deadline must be rejected. This means, to vote in the Aug. 2 Election in Shelby County, a request for absentee ballot must be received by July 26.

For a complete description of the absentee request process visit http://www.shelbyvote.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/11