Memphis voters cite economy, health care, and local issues as early voting numbers outpace 2022

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - One day remains to vote early in Tennessee, and state data shows early voting numbers are outpacing 2022.

In Shelby County, early voting is up nearly 60%, according to state data. Over 140,000 people have cast ballots.

Action News 5 spoke with several voters in East Memphis about why they are voting. The economy was at the top of the list for voters.

Mona Jones, a Memphis voter, said she has a family reason for voting.

“I have an obligation to repay the debts that my grandparents, my great-grandparents paid when they weren’t allowed to come or else they were attacked when they did come,” Jones said.

Carolyn Taylor, a Memphis voter, said the economy is a concern for her.

“I’m living on a pension, so I’m of course concerned with the economy,” Taylor said.

Taylor also said she is voting mostly as a protest vote. She said she is not in favor of pretty much everything the current president is doing.

Harold Roberson, a Memphis voter, said data center development and the Memphis Safe Task Force are his main issues.

“The data center. The task force. Them two things are really my main issues,” Roberson said.

Lexi Hendrix, a Memphis voter, said she is a health care worker and an advocate for women’s health.

“What’s going on in our political economy right now, things like that,” Hendrix said. “And I’m very, I’m a huge advocate for like women’s health and things like that because abortion is health care at the end of the day. I am a health care worker and I do firmly believe that women’s health is understudied and we’re half the population.”

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said that although numbers are up compared to 2022, they should be higher.

“There wasn’t a competitive governor’s race in 22. And 18 is our last competitive governor’s race. It’s behind that. And frankly, when you factor in population growth across the state, the numbers should be even higher,” Hargett said.

Hargett oversees elections in Tennessee. He stopped in Memphis Wednesday and shared what he hopes Election Day looks like next week.

“I can tell you what no drama looks like. It looks like people able to come in and cast their vote, efficiently. With every piece of equipment across the state working properly. It means at the end of the night we are able to get it done in an accurately and timely fashion. And that people walk in here smiling and walk out smiling and people have confidence in the electoral process,” Hargett said.

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