Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 14, giving Lakeland residents an opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
Lakeland voters can vote early at Christian Life Church on Davies Plantation Road, located just past Cracker Barrel. Early voting runs through Oct. 29, excluding Sundays. Shelby County voters may cast their ballots at any of the county’s 26 early voting locations.
Local races will include the Lakeland mayoral contest, two city commission seats and three Lakeland School Board positions. Voters will also decide several statewide and federal races, including contests for Tennessee governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and Tennessee House of Representatives, depending on their voting districts. Note: The Lakeland Banner has reached out to both mayoral candidates with a series of questions and plans to publish their responses later this week.
Three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution will also appear on the ballot. Amendment 1 would expand judicial authority to deny bail for certain serious criminal charges. Amendment 2 would prohibit the state from imposing a statewide property tax but would not affect existing Lakeland or Shelby County property taxes. Amendment 3 would expand constitutional protections for crime victims.
Weekday early voting hours are generally 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., although Saturday hours may vary by location. Voters must present an acceptable government-issued photo identification to vote; a REAL ID is not required. Voters may use touchscreen voting machines or hand-marked paper ballots, but completed ballots must be inserted into a scanner to be counted.
Residents can verify early voting hours, locations and the races appearing on their individual ballots through the Shelby County Election Commission. On Election Day, Nov. 3, voters must report to their assigned polling precinct rather than an early voting location of their choice.
