MEMPHIS, Tennessee —
Top government officials in Tennessee would be wise to stop fighting expansion of absentee voting for people concerned about contracting the coronavirus. But wisdom seems to be in short supply on this issue. And the more these leaders fight, the more they will be accused of voter suppression.
Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle has already ruled that the state must offer absentee ballots this year to all voters who may be worried about catching COVID-19 at the polls. And Wednesday, she refused to set her ruling aside – while the state moves forward with an appeal.
But Judge Hobbs went even further, basically saying her decision was a slam dunk. She said expanding absentee voting because of coronavirus fears – is a common sense remedy – that allows Tennesseans to take part in the August primary and the all-important November presidential election.
The stubbornness of state officials, including secretary of state Tre Hargett, coordinator of elections Mark Goins and even Governor Bill Lee, is mind-boggling. It seems they have bought in to the Republican talking points that more absentee balloting leads to voter fraud. Which is ridiculous.
I believe their bigger concern is that voter turnout, particularly for the presidential election, will be sky high. And that does not bode well for Republicans. Maybe I’m wrong. But with so much Republican pushback to a sensible solution, voter suppression seems to be – the primary motive.
And that’s my point of view. I’m Otis Sanford, for Local 24 News.