MEMPHIS, Tennessee — In Friday's Ransom Note: counting the vote.
You've heard the predictions: that as many as 100,000 voters in Shelby County will be voting absentee this year. You've also heard the trouble that might cause, because --unlike some state-- in Tennessee you can't start counting the ballots until election morning.
But the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum are coming to the rescue. Our NBA arena won't be a voting precinct as some had wanted, but it will be the official site for counting absentee ballots. The Shelby County Election Commission says it's ideal. FedExForum already has security, plenty of cameras to monitor the counting.
So, on November 3rd, 100 two-person teams --one Democrat and one Republican-- will be on the basketball court counting absentee ballots.
Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips told Local 24 News Friday based on registration numbers she's seeing turnout for this election could go as high as 65%. That would be the highest in Shelby County since the 1964 presidential election. Good for the Grizzlies for stepping up.
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