In a local election, every single individual vote counts for the person you select on your ballot. There is no electoral college involved in county or state political offices. These levels of our government are determined by direct democracy. 

In the presidential election, your individual vote chooses an elector who has committed to voting for a specific candidate. The party who wins the popular vote in Tennessee will then send its electors to cast their ballots for President. Read more details from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission here.

In the local primary on March 5th, 2024, only 20.4% of eligible voters showed up at the polls. That means that most of our school board members, along with other local leaders, were chosen by this fraction of voters. One seat was won by only 42 votes. 

YOUR VOTE could tip an election to the candidate you choose. YOUR VOTE could make the difference in the direction our county takes, the direction our state takes. 

Each person who can vote should make heading to their polling location a priority after researching the candidates and what they stand for.