The one debate planned between the Republican and Democratic nominees for U.S. Senate is off, the Memphis Flyer reports. According to the magazine, Republican Bill Hagerty and Democrat Marquita Bradshaw were set to meet on Oct. 14 at the WKRN News 2 studio in Nashville. Though WKRN did not cite a specific reason for the cancellation, two recent developments may have contributed to the decision. First, participation in the debate required that each candidate raise at least $50,000. While Hagerty raised far more than the required funds, Bradshaw has not filed a federal campaign report since she reported raising $22,000 before her primary victory. In addition, one of several independent candidates cited the federal “equal-time rule” in asking to be included in the debate.

Today is the last day to register to vote for the November election, the secretary of state’s office reports. Voters can register online tonight until 11:59 p.m. CDT. Early voting will begin on Oct. 14 and run through Oct. 29 on every day of the week except Sunday. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 27. For more information about voting in Tennessee visit GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections at 877-850-4959.

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle on Friday ruled that the state must again change its absentee ballot application, this time to reflect its promise to let voters cast mail ballots if someone in their household has an underlying health condition that makes them more susceptible to COVID-19, the Associated Press reports. Lyle sided with plaintiffs after they pointed out that a deputy attorney general made the eligibility comment for co-habitants last month in front of the Tennessee Supreme Court. The form on the secretary of state’s website was updated accordingly as of Monday. Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office responded by saying that Lyle was “amending her own language – not language that state election officials wrote.”

District Judge Eli Richardson on Wednesday blocked a request from voting rights advocates asking him to remove a state law that imposes felony charges against anyone who shares absentee ballot applications, if they’re not an election commission employee, the Tennessean reports. Tennessee is the only state to impose such a restriction and plaintiffs in the case argued the threat of heavy criminal charges infringes on their right to constitutionally protected free speech by creating a system where fear of punishment overburdens those seeking to speak. Richardson ruled in favor of the state, refusing to temporarily block it from enforcing the felony provision.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett recently announced that his office has partnered with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to recruit poll workers for the November election. Most Tennessee citizens age 16 years and older are eligible to work as poll officials, including county or municipal government employees if they do not work directly under the supervision of an elected official who is on the ballot. Federal employees also can serve. Poll workers will be supplied with gowns, face shields, gloves and other PPE and will be required to wear a face covering. Workers are paid for training time as well as hours worked during the election. Visit govotetn.com for more information or to apply to become a poll official.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett recently told reporters that it will be a surprise if full voting results are available by the end of Election Day, the Tennessee Journal reports. “We’re going to see a spike in absentee ballots. I don’t know how heavy that will be,” Hargett said. “I hope I’m pleasantly surprised like I was in August, when 95 counties had their election results done by midnight.” Early voting runs from Oct. 14 until Oct. 29 and the deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 27. Absentee ballots must be received by Election Day to count.

Federal Judge Eli Richardson yesterday issued a preliminary injunction temporarily suspending state law that prevents first-time voters from casting absentee ballots unless they show identification at an election office beforehand, the Daily Memphian reports. Under Richardson’s order, any Tennessee voter registered to vote by mail, even first time-voters, may do so if they meet the state’s eligibility requirements. Plaintiffs in the suit say the order will allow tens of thousands of first-time voters, including college students away from home, to vote absentee. Richardson’s order requires the change to be made without delay for the Nov. 3 general election and orders it to be promoted prominently on the Secretary of State’s website.

A federal judge will not block Tennessee’s implementation of a law that requires verifying signatures of voters looking to cast ballots by mail, the Associated Press reports. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson recently rejected a request for a preliminary injunction of the law, ruling that the risk of ballot rejection through the verification process is exceedingly low. He also wrote that voters have other options, including voting in-person early or on Election Day if they are concerned about their signatures. A coalition of voting rights groups had sought permission for voters to fix signature issues before ballots were rejected. The ruling is part of a suit challenging three vote-by-mail restrictions the state has imposed for the November election.

State election officials have confirmed that rapper and producer Kanye West will be appearing on the state's presidential ballot in November, the Associated Press reports. West’s presidential campaign submitted his petition last week and Secretary of State Tre Hargett this week confirmed that West had cleared the required 275 verified signatures needed to qualify as an independent candidate. The Daily Memphian reports that the signatures on West’s petition came from the Nashville and Clarksville areas and the Memphis, Cordova, Collierville and Arlington areas. West has also been successful in getting on the ballot in several other states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Oklahoma and Utah.

The American Bar Association is partnering with the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors to mobilize lawyers to assist as poll workers for the upcoming 2020 election. The Poll Worker Esq. Initiative encourages lawyers, law students and other legal professionals to step into these roles to protect more vulnerable populations that typically serve. Check out a video launching the initiative, sign up to help and support the effort with the hashtag #PollWorkerEsq.