MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE 11/3/2020 - The following is a statement from Ken Taylor, campaign manager for Tennessee’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Marquita Bradshaw, on the lawsuit filed this past weekend regarding absentee ballot information:
“The judge’s ruling yesterday made one thing very clear: the information we seek is public and should be made available to us. Within hours of the ruling, Shelby County election officials provided this information to us. In fact, the only county that has not yet complied with our request is Metro Nashville. To deny our ability to reach out to these voters and let them know their options for casting a ballot is a form of voter suppression. While we hope to work with Metro Nashville officials to rectify this situation, our lawyers are prepared to take further action, if needed.”
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The Tennessee Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit Sunday, against the Secretary of State’s Office on behalf of U.S. Senate Candidate Marquita Bradshaw.
The Bradshaw campaign wants the names of every voter who requested an absentee ballot but has not yet mailed it in.
The state has seven days to fulfill an open records request but less than two days before voting begins. It may be too late.
County elections officials say they would need more time in order to redact the names of some voters.
For example, they need to protect names of voters who live in domestic violence shelters.
Also, there are military personnel who may be stationed at classified locations.