SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The clock is ticking, Election Day now just hours away.
Polls show most of us think elections can’t be over soon enough, but the nation is so divided that even in the Mid-South, everyone involved in the process is leaving nothing to chance.
Memphis Police Department said it is even adding extra patrols as a precaution.
“This year, it’s so important,” said Democratic Women of Shelby County President Yollander Hardaway.
She said her team is helping voters find their precincts while preparing to give dozens of people a free ride to the polls Tuesday.
“Now we are coming into the home stretch, and we are trying to get people physically to the polls,” she said.
The Shelby County Republican Party said it too will offer rides.
The chairman sent a statement saying, “We have trained hundreds of poll watchers who will be out and about throughout Shelby County.”
He also told WREG they have a hotline set up for voters to call if they see a problem.
There are 166 polling locations in Shelby County, including schools.
The Germantown Municipal School District asked parents to help monitor the hallways and parking lot and, in an email, asked staff to be on “heightened alert, provide visibility, and practice all safety and security measures,”
As it has for years, the Department of Justice is once again sending extra eyes to monitor polls to make sure no one’s voting rights are violated.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission said everything is ready to go.
“I told my staff to get some sleep, because tomorrow is going to be a really long,” said election administrator Linda Philips.
One thing that may help Tuesday: Election officials estimate that two-thirds of voters in Shelby County have already voted.
If you need a ride to the polls or would like to offer a ride, you can call Democratic Women of Shelby County at email dwschardaway@gmail.com or call 901-205-9385 to leave your name and message.
You can also call the Republican Party of Shelby County for a ride or to voice concerns at 901-682-3335.
