Shelby County Election Commission met to listen to public concerns about voter registration

Tim Wheat

October 16, 2018

Memphis Election Commission

October 16 public hearing

The day before early voting is to start the Shelby County Election Commission met to listen to public concerns about voter registration. It was reported that on the verge of the election there were nearly 45,000 unprocessed registrations in our county. Local news sources had also reported that many of those voter registration‘s were deemed to be invalid. 

A handful of citizens each spoke individually to voice their concerns about the registration process. The commission chair said that their goal was that all properly registered voters would have a chance to cast a ballot. The commission chair and the director laid out the plan to make sure everyone vote would count. 

The first thing the director suggested is that people vote early. She said that no one would be turned away and you should bring a photo ID and allow a little more time. If Shelby County just cannot find your voter registration you will still be allowed to vote in the provisional process. The provisional ballot is a paper ballot and if you can cure your registration then your vote will count. 

But the Shelby County election commission is swamped right now the director said that she has everyone “pressing keys”, doing the data entry work to register all the voters. Shelby county has suspended sending out the voter registration cards because it’s labor-intensive and not necessary for the election process. 

“A typical midterm we would see 10,000 forms,” said the director of the Shelby county election commission, “5000 would be new registrations, this was a tsunami that we didn’t see coming.”

The best way to avoid problems at the polling site is to check your voter registration online before you vote. Early voting starts Wednesday, October 17 check the local paper or election commission website for early voting sites near you. you make all the helpful staff member at MCI hell for more information about boating or for help checking your voter registration.