What does voting 'yes' on the November ballot really mean on those six referendum questions in Memphis?
Six questions will face Memphis voters at the polls, over their opinions on a variety of topics, from run-off elections to gun safety measures.
With only days remaining before election day, Memphians are being asked to be voter ready ahead of going to the polls.
While most of the country is thinking of who will be the next President of the United States, Memphians will have several local issues to contend with as well.
Six referendum questions will be on the ballot, some of which are longer than people are usually used to. Election officials have already warned these extra questions could take extra time.
"It's taking about 60 seconds longer than we had estimated, so per voter, that adds up," said Shelby County Election Commission Administrator Linda Phillips on the first day of early voting, "Do your homework; make sure you've read the referendum if you live in the City of Memphis before you get here."
To help move these lines along, election officials suggest looking at the Memphis sample ballot, which includes the six referendums in full. Below is ABC24's breakdown of each question in the order they appear on the ballot, and what your vote will mean come election day.
Yes Means Yes
For all the referendums listed on the ballot, voters will choose whether they are "For The Amendment" or "Against The Amendment." For the first three listed referendums, voting "For The Amendment" would show voter support behind creating new rules or criteria for the listed subject.
Referendum 1 Create A Run-Off Election For Mayor Memphis Mayor
Referendum Ordinance No. 5884 asks Memphians if they would like to enact a runoff election for the Memphis Mayoral race. This would only happen if no candidate gets 50% of the votes cast.
This could potentially change the outcome of elections. Last year Mayor Paul Young was elected with just 27.6% of the vote according to ABC24 data. This came after a crowded pool of 17 candidates made it near impossible for anyone to gather 50%.
According to Ballotpedia, a vote "For The Amendment" would show your support to create a run-off between the top two candidates in the initial race.
A vote "Against The Amendment" would mean you would rather keep things the same.
Referendum 2 City Council Chooses Salaries
Referendum Ordinance No. 5893 asks Memphians if the Memphis City Council should determine their own salary, along with the salaries of Memphis Mayor and other Chief Officers.
A vote "For The Amendment" means you would like to see the Memphis City Council set the salary for the Mayor, City Council, Chief Administrative Officers, Appointed Directors and Deputy Directors.
A vote "Against The Amendment" would mean you would not want the council to decide the previously listed salaries.
Referendum 4 Create Mayor Residency Requirement
Referendum Ordinance No. 5913 asks Memphians if Mayor or City Council members should be required to live in Memphis.
This question came after a debate during the 2023 Memphis Mayoral election. Candidates Van Turner and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner found themselves in the middle of controversy, over whether or not they actually met what was believed to be the residency requirements.
The two mayoral hopefuls were the subject of a lawsuit from the Memphis City Council claiming their running for election went against the city's residency requirements.
Three of the most recognizable names running for mayor had all lived outside the city in the past five years; sheriff Floyd Bonner, former county commissioner Van Turner, and former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton.
Bonner and Turner had recently moved back.
In a court filing Sunday, May 7, 2023, the Memphis City Council said a referendum voted in by Memphis voters in 1996 amended the 1966 ‘City of Memphis Home Rule Charter.” The filing said the amended rule holds the mayoral candidate to the same qualifications on residency as city council members, which is that they “shall be a resident, as defined by State election laws, of the city and district from which he or she is elected.”
The council argues this means that the five-year residency requirement was thrown out, and mayoral candidates are not subject to that rule.
A Shelby County judge ruled in favor of the two then Memphis mayoral candidates.
As a result, this referendum would attempt to take steps to put requirements in writing.
A vote "For The Amendment" would show your support with including the additional requirements for City Council and Mayoral candidates to be at least 18-years-old, live in Memphis for at least two years before the election, and not hold another office or have a contract with an interest with the city.
A vote "Against The Amendment" would show you do not feel the requirements should be in place.
Yes Means "Restrictions"
The next three questions listed on the ballot have to do with potentially adding new gun measures in the city of Memphis, and a way to curb gun violence in the city. However, they were quickly met with criticism by state leaders.
“These ballot questions are a fraud on the voters of Memphis,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “They will not change the law. This is a futile stunt that wastes time and money when the city council should focus on ensuring existing laws are enforced."
At the same time, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said in a statement that they want to block local governments from attempting “to circumvent state law by politicized ballot measures or ordinances.”
For the last three listed referendums, voting "For The Amendment" would should voter desire to see these restrictions put in place.
Referendum 4 Permitless Carry Ban
Referendum Ordinance No. 5908 Question 1 asks Memphians if they would like to see a ban on carrying a gun without a permit or having a gun in your car without a permit in the city of Memphis. People could still store ammo in your car, as long as it was out of sight like in a trunk, glove box, or a secured-locked container.
A vote "For The Amendment" would show you want the city to pass a local ordinance to ban permitless carry.
A vote "Against The Amendment" would show you want Tennessee's state law on permitless carry to apply locally in Memphis.
Referendum 5 Assault Weapon Ban
Referendum Ordinance No. 5908 Question 2 asks Memphian if they want to see an assault weapon ban, and stop the sale of assault rifles in the city unless they were to law enforcement or a government agency.
However, people who already owned an assault rifle, along with a permit, would not be affected by this new rule, as long as said person also passed a background check.
A vote "For The Amendment" would show your support for the City Council to ban assault weapons and declare the use of assault weapons as a threat to health, safety and security.
A vote "Against The Amendment" would show you would not want to see these roles in place.
Referendum 6 Extreme-Risk Protection Orders
Referendum Ordinance No. 5908 Question 3 is the final and longest one on the ballot, and asks Memphis if the courts should be allowed to take someone's gun away from them, if they are found to be a significant danger or extreme-risk to themselves or others.
A vote "For The Amendment" would mean you think the court should put this Extreme-Risk Protection Order in place, and allow the court to take someone's gun for a certain amount of time.
A vote "Against The Amendment" shows your opposition for putting this measure in place.