The balance of power in Washington gets all the attention on the midterm elections,but an important local decision will be on voters' ballots this year: The future of Knoxville elections.
Those who live or own property in Knoxville will be asked whether to condense elections if popular candidates do well in the primaries.
Currently, the top-two vote-getters in nonpartisan August primaries advance to a November runoff. A ballot questions asks whether to keep things working that way, or allow candidates who get a majority of the votes in the primary to win automatically.
The change would align city council races with how the mayor and municipal judge are elected.
The ballot
will ask one question, and a "for the amendment" vote means you support the change, and an "against the amendment" vote means you want to keep elections as they are now.
Supporters say the change would make elections more concise
Voting "for the amendment" means if a city council candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the August primary election, they're automatically declared the winner.
Making city council elections the same as municipal judge and mayor could clear up confusion, former Knox County Administrator of Elections Cliff Rodgers said on a website in support of the amendment.
"We should have one clear majority standard for city elections and make the rules easier for voters to understand," Rodgers said. "Knoxville already uses this standard for mayor and municipal judge, and City Council elections should follow the same commonsense rule. I believe it can increase voter turnout, and it will save taxpayers time and money. That’s good for voters and good for our community."
If a candidate in each race received a majority of primary votes, the November runoff could be canceled, saving candidates and taxpayers money.
Opponents say changing elections would rob voters
Voting "against the amendment" supports having city council elections stay as they are.
Opponents say changing the system is problematic because voter turnout is lower in August compared to November.
"If you are among the many Knoxvillians who regularly vote in November but miss the city primary, your representative could be chosen before you ever reach the polls," YES! Knoxville board president and commercial real estate broker Jack Coker wrote in an opinion column for Knox News.
Coker cited turnout numbers from the 2025 election, when "9,782 votes were cast across Knoxville’s five district council primaries. In November, those same five races drew 21,776 votes – more than twice as many. Participation increased in every district."
What will the question look like on your ballot?
Here's what will be on your ballot:
Charter amendment submitted by the Council of the City of Knoxville pertaining to the election of City Council: Shall Article VII, Sections 707(b) and 707(c) of the Charter of the City of Knoxville be amended to provide that if a candidate for the office of City Council receives a majority of all votes cast in the primary for the designated seat, the candidate shall be declared elected without the necessity of a runoff and a certificate of election shall be issued to such candidate, all as more fully set forth in Ordinance No. O-62-2026 of the City of Knoxville as duly published?
Chief Financial Officer's cost estimate of the proposed charter amendment is $0.
- For the amendment
- Against the amendment
When can you vote on the city council election referendum?
Early voting is open at 11 locations through Oct. 29, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Should Knoxville change its local elections? You will help decide
