What's on the Nov. 8 ballot?
Early voting is already underway for the final election in 2022.
By William Newlin
We’ve already made it through local elections as well as the state and federal primaries. Now voters have the chance to elect the Tennessee governor, our U.S. Congress representative, and other state offices; they also have the chance to vote on Tennessee state constitutional amendments.
Before you head to the polls, take a look at this guide to the races and candidates you’ll see on the ballot.
Early voting is open until Nov. 3 and Election Day is Nov. 8.
Fast facts
The following races will be on everyone’s ballot in Hamilton County: Tennessee Governor and U.S. Congress District 3
There will also be four amendments to the state constitution up for a vote
You may have one or more of the following races on your ballot, depending on where you live: Tennessee House of Representatives Districts 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 and Tennessee Senate District 11. Find a ballot specific to you here
You can request an absentee ballot here until Nov. 1 if you won’t be home for early voting or on Election Day
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Tennessee Governor
This statewide election features 10 candidates – one Republican, one Democrat and eight Independents. The candidates backed by the two major parties are sitting Governor Bill Lee who is a Republican and Jason Martin, a Democrat.
View all the candidates here.
U.S. Congress
Hamilton County is in Tennessee’s third congressional district, which stretches up to parts of Morgan and Scott counties near the Kentucky Border. The current District 3 representative is Charles Fleischmann, a Republican. He is running again against Democratic candidate Meg Gorman and two Independents.
Tennessee Senate
Only District 11 is on the ballot this November, covering Signal Mountain, Redbank, Soddy-Daisy, Ooltewah and Collegedale, among other areas. The district does not include downtown Chattanooga but stretches to the northern edge of Hamilton County past Sale Creek.
Republican Bo Watson is running unopposed in District 11.
Tennessee House of Representatives
Three of five state house races this November feature candidates running unopposed. They are:
District 28: Yusuf A. Hakeem, Democrat
District 29: Greg Vital, Republican
District 30: Esther Helton, Republican
In District 26, sitting Republican Greg Martin is running against Democratic candidate Allison Gorman. In District 27 sitting Republican Patsy Hazlewood is competing with Independent candidate Michael H. Potter.
Amendments to Tennessee's state constitution
Along with the elections, four amendments to the Tennessee Constitution are up for vote this fall. UTC professor of public administration Chris Acuff said the first proposed amendment – known as the “Right-to-Work Amendment” – is the most controversial. He described the rest as housekeeping measures meant to clarify vague language in the Tennessee Constitution about already-settled matters.
Click on each link to read more detailed overview about what each amendment would do and who supports it. They are:
Amendment #1: The so-called “Right-to-Work- Amendment” would create a new section in the Tennessee Constitution that forbids any entity from refusing to employ someone based on membership in or lack of membership in a labor union. Tennessee currently has a state law in effect with the same language as the proposed constitutional amendment.
A “Yes” vote would make it unconstitutional for anyone to refuse employment to someone based on his or her union membership or lack thereof.
A “No” vote would leave this out of the constitution but keep the state’s right-to-work law on the books.
Amendment #2: This would add language to the Tennessee constitution clarifying the process of how a member of the state General Assembly would temporarily become acting governor if the sitting governor is incapable of performing his or her duties. Right now, the constitution only deals with cases in which the governor dies while in office or resigns. The amendment would also create a process allowing a majority of commissioners within the state executive’s departments to declare that a sitting governor is unable to perform his or her duties.
A “Yes” vote would add more details to the constitution about the process of a governor temporarily stepping down the role of an acting governor when that happens.
A “No” vote would not change the constitution’s current description of an acting governor’s duties and would not add language about the process of a governor temporarily stepping down.
Amendment #3: This would delete language in the Tennessee constitution that prohibits slavery except in the case of a person who has been “duly convicted of a crime.” The amendment would add the following language instead: “Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.”
A “Yes” vote would make unpaid work performed by prisoners unconstitutional.
A “No” vote would make it constitutional for prisons not to pay prisoners for their work
Amendment #4: This would delete a section of the Tennessee constitution that prohibits priests and ministers from becoming a member of the state Senate or state House of Representatives. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1977 that this section of the Tennessee Constitution violated the free expression of religion, and members of the clergy have and do currently serve in the Tennessee General Assembly.
A “Yes” vote would make it constitutional for priests and ministers to run for state office, something that already occurs.
A “No” vote would continue to make it technically unconstitutional for priests and ministers to run for state office, although the prohibition would likely not be enforced.
Download a sample ballot to read each proposed amendment in full.
Get involved: Become a poll official
Hamilton County is always in need of poll officials to help on Election Day and they will provide training for those interested.
These are paid positions, and you can receive a stipend for your day's work between $135 - $175 depending on your role.
For more information and to sign up as a poll official you can visit their website.