Downtown voters to get new precinct

Email | Print By Nate Rau

Downtown voters on the city side of the Cumberland River will have a new voting precinct for the Nov. 4 election – the downtown public library.

The Election Commission board of commissioners will consider adding the new precinct at their meeting this afternoon. The item is likely to pass. Additionally, District 24 voters who previously voted at McCabe Community Center will have their precinct moved to McCabe Golf Course.

The addition of the downtown library precinct comes after a push from the Nashville Downtown Partnership and downtown citizens.

Until now, voters have had to cross the river and go to the East Park Community Center. District 6 resident and Nashville attorney Kenny Byrd said the extra downtown voting precinct will give downtown residents the option of walking to the polls.

“Everyone agrees a thriving downtown residential life is extremely important to Nashville's future growth,” Byrd said. “The downtown pioneers are active in our civic life and want to be able to walk and easily access their day-to-day essentials.

“What is more central to participating in that civic life than exercising the right to vote?  There is simply no reason why downtown residents should have to hop in a bus or car and head way across the river just to exercise this most basic right.”