KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — This week, two Knoxville leaders will host public meetings to connect with the community and explore the impacts of an upcoming referendum that could change how the city conducts its elections.
In August, Knoxville City Council passed proposals aimed at preserving citywide elections after a state law went into effect requiring the city to change how it conducts elections. In previous years when Knoxville voters went to the polls during city primary elections, they could vote for candidates only in their districts. During general elections, they could instead vote for candidates in every city council election — including districts outside the one they live in.
The state law was meant to put a stop to that style of voting and was aimed at requiring the city to follow how most state municipalities vote, implementing district-limited elections. The proposal that the city council passed would make relatively minor changes to the city's voting structure so voters could still cast ballots for every council member while still complying with the law.
It renames the city's districts to "regions," and implements a policy requiring candidates to live in the regions they would represent. Another proposal changed the election calendar for District 5, aligning it with every other city district and making elections more uniform across the city. In effect, the proposal would make city council seats entirely at-large and people could vote for candidates in every region during every primary and general election.
Since the proposals would change the city's charter, voters also need to weigh in on them. In November, Knoxville ballots will include an option of whether to approve the changes.
The proposed changes were championed by Andrew Roberto, who is hosting a town hall discussion on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Bearden United Methodist Church gym. The church is located at 4407 Sutherland Avenue, and he said on social media the meeting is being hosted with Knoxville's chapter of the NAACP.
Amelia Parker, another city council member, previously introduced her proposal that would have effectively implemented district-limited voting in Knoxville. She pointed to research that criticized at-large voting systems for impacting minority voting rights.
Black communities and communities of color may not have as strong a voice on city councils if all people in a city vote for candidates, the research said. By keeping elections district-limited, minority communities may be able to preserve a voice on city councils, according to the Municipal Technical Advisory Service.
She and the progressive City Council Movement also plan to host a meeting in Mechanicsville to discuss the referendum. On social media, the group said it urges people to vote against the election style changes.
That meeting will be on Sept. 14 starting at 3 p.m. at the Clinton Chapel AME Zion church, located at 546 College Street.
