‘An exercise in futility’: Why some Tennesseans aren’t voting today

For many in Tennessee, Election Day is just another regular day — and for various reasons, they’re not casting ballots.

Tennessee was last in the nation for turnout in the 2022 midterm elections, and in the 2020 presidential election, just under 60% of the voting-eligible population went to the polls. Across Nashville, some non-voters shared why they are not taking part this time.

At the Waffle House on Clarksville Pike, Eric Malone said he had voted in presidential elections before but hadn’t seen much change. Instead, he encourages a more community-centric approach.

“Vote locally, you know, vote for your mayor, vote for your councilman, your dog catcher … because that has a more immediate impact on your everyday circumstances,” he said. “But as far as presidential election, it just seems like an exercise in futility.”

Another hurdle for voters is the registration process. Information can be complicated and bureaucratic.

Michael, an unhoused man who was sitting near a polling station in Centennial Park, said he would have voted for Trump had he been able to register. But he’d lost his wallet, ID and other essential documents. Close by, tourist brothers Scott and Logan Clemons were admiring The Parthenon — they said they were registered to vote in a swing state but felt comfortable missing the window to vote today.

At Vanderbilt University, 19-year-old student Samuel said he would vote Republican — if the state wasn’t so reliably red.

“I didn’t feel the need to. But say I was in, like, a swing state, I think voting would be a lot more important there,” he said. “It’s all kind of just a game.”

At the Nashville Farmers Market, mother Maddie and her young daughter were grabbing lunch. The mother said she’d been in Tennessee for four years but usually doesn’t feel confident that she has all the information she needs to make a sure decision.

“So that’s kind of why I stood back,” she said. “I don’t feel strongly either way.”