Nashville, TN – The state Legislature cleared the way for the Davidson County Election Commission to change the date of Metro’s runoff election this year, which happened to fall on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
The state House joined the Senate in unanimously passing a bill giving the Davidson County Election Commission the authority to hold the runoff election within 30-45 days after the regular election.
The Senate passed the bill April 25, and with the House’s passage, the bill is on its way to Gov. Phil Bredesen’s desk.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The election commission had originally set the date for the runoff election for Sept. 13, the second Thursday of September, as required by the Metro Charter. But Sept. 13 happens to fall this year on Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish New Year. Holding the runoff election on that date could disenfranchise observant Jews.
“They’re not allowed to vote on that day,” Rep. Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory), the sponsor of the bill, told fellow House members. “That’s simply all this bill does. It helps a segment of our community.”
The Davidson County Election Commission had voted to hold the runoff election Sept. 11. Election administrator Ray Barrett has said the commission “can live with any date,” as long as it’s not on Rosh Hashanah, as was reported here on Vos Iz Neias. [Nashville City Paper]