Davidson County Election Commission has outraged officials at the Nashville mayor’s office after the panel voted that it is prepared to cut the number of early voting sites in metro Nashville’s general election from 11 to one, unless more funding is acquired. Media outlets report that the election commission voted 3-2 on Wednesday to operate only one early voting site — the state’s legal minimum — if the Metro Council approves Mayor Karl Dean’s proposed budget without changes. Dean’s proposed operating budget is $868,000 lower than what the commission sought.
Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling, a top Dean aide, blasted the decision. “Does the election commission have enough money to run the elections this summer?” Riebeling said in a statement. “Yes, they do. But they’ve chosen to punish the voters of Davidson County in order to enhance their budget. 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.”
Republican commission Chairman Ron Buchanan, who voted for the reductions, said the budget doesn’t cover funding for 12 full-time, year-round office positions the commission requested.
Full Article: Nashville early voting sites axed unless more funding added; mayor’s office blasts decision.