TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jan 11, 2022

The debut of a new voting system in Shelby County is facing a possible delay after a chancery court ruling did not resolve the standoff between the Shelby County Commission and the Shelby County Election Commission over the new system, the Daily Memphian reports. The election commission filed suit last year, claiming the county commission illegally blocked its choice of voting machines by rejecting its contract with ES&S LLC. Special Chancellor Gadson W. Perry ruled in September that, by state law, the election commission can determine what kind of system to use, but the county commission decides whether to fund it. Perry said from the bench that he would grant permission for the election commission to appeal, but has not issued the formal order. With no appeals court order, there is uncertainty on whether a new system could be in place in time for three elections this year. If no new system is purchased, the county will continue to use its 20-year-old touchscreen machines.