Some Tennesseans get ready to cast votes in state legislature race with no names on the ballot

When voters in one local Memphis, Tenn., district go to the polls this fall, they’ll be handed a ballot with no names on it.

In House District 93, a Democratic stronghold in the red state, no candidate qualified for the August primaries or the general election. Unlike the other 47 races on the ballot where voters will select names as usual, this election will operate with its own set of unique rules.

“I’ve never seen it,” William Lyons, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, told Democracy Docket. “In this situation, such a bizarre number of things had to happen.”

Instead of filling in bubbles or tapping a candidate’s name on a screen, voters will have a blank line where they can write in someone’s name. Whoever gets the most write-in votes will win the statehouse seat in November.

But that doesn’t mean just anyone can win. 

Write-in candidates had to submit paperwork to their election offices 50 days before Election Day. According to Shelby County elections administrator Linda Phillips, there are five qualified write-in candidates for the general election.

However, they aren’t identified as candidates on the ballot itself. And they’re not required to provide information on their party affiliation.

“It’s been a real mystery,” Lyons said. “Just one of those people just have to get the word out, get somebody to write their name in and then they’ll be elected. Whoever gets the most votes, even if it’s five.”

House District 93 was held for more than a decade by Democrat G.A. Hardaway, an advocate for civil rights and criminal justice reform. He was running for reelection this spring when his campaign fell one signature short of the 25 needed to qualify for the primary ballot. Then the longtime state lawmaker died in April. 

His son, T.J. Hardaway, was appointed to finish the remainder of his term. T.J Hardaway was also running his own write-in campaign for this fall’s election but dropped his bid earlier this month.

The Tennessee Democratic Party told Democracy Docket it’s not endorsing a write-in candidate in this election, but that it’s still confident voters will elect a Democrat to represent House District 93.

“Families there are keenly aware of what is at stake if a Republican were to take that seat,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell said. “They are continuing to struggle with the rising costs. They are continuing to struggle with healthcare needs. They’re watching as Donald Trump puts ICE agents into Memphis, into District 93, and we’re seeing the brutality of that and what it means for that district.”