Shelby County residents: You are running out of time to register to vote.
County residents must register to vote by end of day on Oct. 5, to participate in November's Election Day. The election will have local, state and federal races on the ballot, including the highly controversial and widely watched three recently gerrymandered congressional seats representing Memphis.
Here's a quick rundown of what to know.
Visit the Shelby County Election Commission's website to register online, or update your registration. It's too late to mail in your application, but the online application only takes a few minutes.
Check your voter status, change your address or find your polling
location at shelbyvote.com.
New Shelby County Commission assumes responsibility for jails
The Shelby County Commission met for a relatively brief meeting on Sept. 28, still working out early kinks for the new body.
The Commission, which has decision-making power over county jails and correctional facilities, entered a new contract with Aramark Correctional Services, which has provided food to inmates for years. The almost $6 million contract will be in place through the end of June, when the Commission will have the option to renew it.
Despite inmate complaints of spoiled food and mold, the Commission voted unanimously to renew the county's partnership with Aramark. Several Commissioners have expressed their hesitation about contracting with Aramark, but no alternatives have been proposed.
The average cost of an inmate's meal in Shelby County is $1.99, per conversations at the Commission's most recent committee meetings on Sept. 23.
Aramark, which is based in Philadelphia, serves about 650 correctional facilities worldwide in some capacity.
The board also approved Chairwoman Shante Avant's appointments to the Commission's standing committees for the next year. Each commissioner chairs at least one of the board's 17 committees.
Each standing committee, led by its chair, reviews legislation within its specialty before making recommendations to the commission as a whole.
Here are the new committee chairs:
- Budget and Finance: Amber Huett-Garcia
- Public Works: Rhonda O'Dell
- Hospitals and Health: Miska Clay Bibbs
- Law Enforcement, Corrections and Courts: Mark Billingsley
- Land Use Planning, Transportation and Codes Enforcement: Karen Streeter
- Education: Michele Dial
- Economic Development and Tourism: Will Richardson
- Community Services: Lashanta Rudd
- Conservation: Michele Dial
- General Government: Miska Clay Bibbs
- Core City, Neighborhoods and Housing: Henri Brooks
- Legislative Affairs: Derek Mills
- Audit: Amber Huett-Garcia
- Equal Opportunity: Shante Avant
- Facilities, Real Property and Capital Improvements: Charlie Caswell
- Milton Community Enhancement Grants: Karen Streeter
- Workforce Development: Erika Sugarmon
Also, the county is now accepting applications for commissioners in the General Sessions Court. The County Commission will appoint two applicants as judicial commissioners, who handle initial legal proceedings and issue warrants, among other responsibilities.
Applications are open until Oct. 16. Get more information on the county's website.
U.S. House of Representatives committee to meet in Collierville
The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, which Republican Memphis-area Rep. David Kustoff serves on, is holding a field hearing in Collierville at 9 a.m. on Oct. 6.
Local business owners and manufacturers are invited to hear about the One Big Beautiful Bill's impact on small and medium sized businesses, according to a Oct. 1 press release. The hearing will be at the Orgill Innovation Center, 4027 Bailey Station Rd.
"I am pleased West Tennesseans will have the opportunity to discuss the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill and share their perspectives," Kustoff said in the release. "I look forward to hearing how the House of Representatives can continue to support people and small businesses in West Tennessee and across the nation.”
Kustoff is running for reelection to the Tennessee District 8 seat in Congress in November. He is being challenged by former Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn, who won the Democratic nomination.
Looking ahead to early voting
Early voting in Shelby County is coming up.
During the early voting period, registered voters can cast their ballot at any available polling place, and are not limited to the ones they are geographically assigned to for Election Day.
The early voting schedule from Oct. 14 to 29 is as follows:
- Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See all of the early voting locations on the Shelby County Election Commission's website.
Coming up
The Memphis City Council will next meet at 4 p.m. on Oct. 6 at City Hall, 125 N. Main St. Meeting agendas for the Council's committee and regular meetings will be posted on the city's website closer to that date.
The Council is expected to continue discussing a possible ban on data center development, or more likely, regulations for the ones within city limits.
The Shelby County Commission's next regular meeting will be 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Vasco A. Smith, Jr. County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. The meeting will also be streamed on the commission's YouTube channel.
Got a question for us?
Got a question for the metro reporting team you would like us to take on? Have thoughts on what you want to see in our weekly politics column? Send an email to annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or call 901-930-7431.
Annie Goldman covers government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or 901-930-7431, and followed on X @AnnieSGoldman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County voter registration deadline is here; Kustoff brings Ways and Means
