Nashville May 1 Election: What To Know For Transit Vote, Primary

NASHVILLE, TN -- Election Day for the Metro Nashville referendum asking for approval of a massive, multi-billion dollar transit plan and incumbent tax increases is Tuesday, May 1. Voters will also have the opportunity to vote in primaries for certain county offices and judicial positions.

Polls are open across the county from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. While the transit vote is grabbing the most headlines, there are also primaries for chancellor, two general session judges, criminal court judge, criminal court clerk, juvenile court clerk, circuit court clerk, public defender, sheriff, county clerk, trustee, and register of deeds, along with Democratic Party executive committee member positions.

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While technically there is a Republican Party primary, as well, no GOP candidates are on the ballot, thus making winning the Democratic primary tantamount to election, as is typically the case in deeply blue Davidson County. That, however, did not stop nearly a quarter of early voters from requesting a Republican primary ballot.

The transit referendum asks for approval of the $5.4 billion plan that seeks to add light rail, expand and improve bus service and construct a billion-dollar tunnel underneath downtown. It would increase sales taxes by a half-cent every year for the next five years and then another full cent in 2023. It would also raise the hotel/motel tax, the business tax and the rental car tax.

Voters will need to bring an approved photo ID to vote. Find your polling place here; on Election Day, voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct.

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