TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 4, 2020

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle in a virtual hearing yesterday called the state’s guidelines about who can vote by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic “very ambiguous,” the Associated Press reports. Two lawsuits have been filed against the state, seeking absentee voting for all voters this year in an attempt to help keep the COVID-19 virus from spreading at polling locations. Lyle cited “weighty proof” that other states have expanded to let all voters cast absentee ballots this year, but cautioned that whatever she orders needs to be “a practical, workable solution, or it will throw the election into chaos.” She said she will rule next week on whether to issue a temporary injunction to allow all voters to request absentee ballots for the Aug. 6 primary, something Tennessee officials say is not feasible. A federal lawsuit is also pending.