Tennessee voters are preparing for the elections on November 5, where they will decide on the presidential contest, as well as elections for Congress and the state Legislature. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump will compete for the 11 electoral votes in a state that has supported the Republican candidate in the last six elections.
Tennessee, which used to be a reliable presidential indicator, voted for all winning candidates from Lyndon Johnson to Bush's reelection. However, it is currently considered a safe Republican territory, as Trump won in 2020 by a margin of 61% to Biden's 37%. In this election, five independent candidates also appear on the presidential ballot.
In addition to the presidential contest, another important election is for the Senate, where incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn seeks reelection against Democratic state representative Gloria Johnson. The composition of the state Legislature will also be at stake, as approximately half of the 33 seats in the Tennessee state Senate and all 99 seats in the state lower house will be contested in the elections.
Voter turnout in Tennessee has been notable, with 69% of registered voters casting their ballots in the 2020 presidential elections. Votes cast before Election Day accounted for about 75% of the total in 2020 and approximately 51% in 2022. Vote counting is generally completed quickly, with around 98% of votes reported by midnight on Election Day.
Although Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers of Tennessee, the November elections do not pose a risk to these majorities. The Associated Press expects to announce the results on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The AP does not make predictions and only declares a winner when there are no scenarios for trailing candidates to close the gap. In the absence of a clear winner, coverage will continue with newsworthy events, such as candidates' concessions or victory statements.