Currently in chaos” is the way Davidson County Election Commissioner Tricia Herzfeld described early voting just two months out from a critical mayoral election.
It’s the latest response to the unprecedented action taken Wednesday by the Election Commission as it voted 3-2 along party lines to cut all early voting sites except one, if it does not get more funding from Metro Nashville budget currently being debated.
In last November’s election, about half of all votes cast in Nashville came in early voting.
Metro Finance Director Rich Reibeling minced no words in a statement given to News 2.
“Does the election commission have enough money to run the elections this summer? Yes, they do. But they’ve chosen to punish the voters of Davidson County in order to enhance their budget,” said Riebeling. “ They need to reverse their position and remember that their job is to make elections accessible to the voters. To threaten early voting sites is outrageous.”
At-Large Council Member and mayoral candidate Megan Barry also blasted the decision, saying she hopes to restore the funding for early voting sites. (continue reading at WKRN)