Elections
Voters make their way to polls in first 3 hours of Election Day
As Election Day voting begins, Shelby County residents head to the polls, with heavier turnout expected during the afternoon rush hour, according to the Election Commission.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
There are 4419 articles by Bill Dries :
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August 2026
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2026 elections
Elections -
2026 elections
ElectionsAnalysis: What to watch for in Thursday’s election results
The votes counted Thursday evening may decide who advances or who gets in office. But some of the issues at play will still be around in November for the third and final election of 2026.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsElection Day arrives amid ballot problems, new districts
Polls across Shelby County are open Thursday, Aug. 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. deciding who wins a full slate of county offices and who advances to the Nov. 3 ballot in state and federal primaries.
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City of Memphis Trolleys coming back Downtown this fall
MATA plans to resume trolley service Downtown in the fall with four trolleys, according to the trustee of the city-owned bus system. Plus, an update on the city’s recently revamped Group Violence Intervention Program from City Council coverage.
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2026 elections
ElectionsEarly-vote turnout clears 90K in Shelby County
This year marks the highest early-voting turnout since 2010 for the congressional midterm election cycle.
Related content:
After early voting issues, voting machines being tested before Election Day
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City of Memphis City Council tackles high-dollar votes and ambitious plans in Tuesday’s meeting
Moving money to the redevelopment of the Southwest Twin Drive-in, final votes on two November ballot questions, a first vote on short-term rental rules and some complex bond restructures are on Tuesday’s City Council agendas.
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2026 elections
ElectionsAfter early voting issues, voting machines being tested before Election Day
An early voting problem was traced to a single voting machine in Bartlett that more than 300 voters used, which could lead to lawsuits challenging election results.
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2026 elections
ElectionsShelby County confirms second ballot glitch affecting judicial races
A single voting machine in Bartlett and a single polling official are blamed for the problem that arose earlier with absentee ballots.
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Elections Conflicting polls and what becomes of competition after the primaries
The Republican primary for Governor includes battling polls and a look at post primary unity — the hopes, and the reality.
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2026 elections
ElectionsEarly-voting turnout this year ahead of what it was in 2022
Saturday is the last day to vote early in advance of the Aug. 6 Election Day. Here are some numbers about where turnout appears to be going locally and statewide.
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July 2026
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Shelby County Old police HQ building considered for Juvenile Court move
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is considering a rehab of the old Memphis Police Department headquarters building as a new home for Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court. But Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon isn’t a fan of the idea.
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2026 elections
ElectionsEndorsement ballots: A unique Memphis tradition
A warning from District Attorney General Steve Mulroy about misleading endorsement ballots is the latest chapter in the tale of a unique Memphis political institution.
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Shelby County Commission approves $125M in loans for county
Shelby County commissioners also heard a call from Juvenile Court officials for a complete replacement of the court building and approved a manufactured-housing park in Frayser.
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Shelby County New county fiscal year, same county reserve fund crunch
Shelby County commissioners vote Monday on a $125 million line of credit from two sources to deal with the county’s ongoing cash-flow crisis, an emergency fix for the air conditioning issues at the county jail and more.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsWhat early voter turnout so far says about the race for three new congressional districts
The Daily Memphian analyzes the first six days of early voting data within the three new congressional districts that split Shelby County and the race for Tennessee governor.
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Spirit of Memphis New historic marker honors Tom Lee and his Klondike community — then and now
The marker unveiled Wednesday is about the past but also the present push to restore and renovate the Klondike area where Lee lived out his life after he saved the lives of 32 people on the Mississippi River in 1925.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsRedistricting could fuel higher turnout, election official says
Election officials talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the disruption of new congressional districts and how that could lead to an increase in voter turnout.
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2026 elections
ElectionsSheriff candidate Brad Less suggests separate jail to divert nonviolent offenders
Brad Less, the Republican nominee for Shelby County sheriff, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about immediate solutions to problems at the Shelby County Jail and life after the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsGOP nominee for county mayor DeBerry defends state intervention in city and county
John DeBerry, the Republican nominee for Shelby County mayor, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about state intervention in Memphis and Shelby County as well as his hopes for a gradual withdrawal of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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2026 elections
ElectionsDemocratic sheriff nominee takes wait-and-see approach on cooperation with federal immigration
Anthony Buckner talked about immigration and the Memphis Safe Task Force as well as a new jail in a wide-ranging interview on “Behind The Headlines”.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsLowery: ‘Collaboration’ with state, not intervention or takeover
Democratic nominee for County Mayor Mickell Lowery talked about state intervention, his vote to raise county property taxes and tax breaks as economic development incentives on “Behind The Headlines.”
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City of Memphis Council confirms new city leaders
The Memphis City Council also approved a change to the city’s structure for the trustee status MATA is currently operating under.
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City of Memphis Two new city officials, stricter short-term rental terms to go before council
The Memphis City Council will act on the appointments for the city’s CFO and CAO and take final votes to add a pair of city charter change referendums to the Nov. 3 ballot for Memphis voters to decide.
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Shelby County Pearson rally puts Memphis at center of Democratic Party debate
Plus, GOP gubernatorial candidates push to change Tennessee constitution for tougher control over Memphis courts and the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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City of Memphis Mayor Young signs city paid parental-leave policy
Memphis Mayor Paul Young signed an executive order that puts in place up to six weeks of fully paid leave for full-time city employees following the birth, adoption or fostering of a child.
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