Election Commission Keeps English-Only off November Ballot

The Davidson County Election Commission has denied a voter referendum from making the November ballot on a technicality.

The referendum, which required more than 10-thousand voter signatures, would have made English the only language used in Metro government, with few exceptions.

Despite the controversy surrounding the initiative, chairman Eddie Bryan says the commission’s job was merely to determine if the process was followed.

“If things are done timely and done properly, it would have passed without a doubt. But it was not that way and we did the right thing and what our job is, to put it on the ballot or not put it on the ballot, and we voted not to.”

The dispute centers on wording in the Metro Charter which allows one voter-led amendment each two years. The November 4th Election Day falls three days shy of the mark, as interpreted by the Metro Department of Law.

The Election Commission was not unanimous in its decision. Member Lynn Greer voted to keep the English-only amendment on the ballot.

“I think we’re disenfranchising the voters. I think the voters ought to have a right to vote on it.”

And Councilman Eric Crafton hopes they still may. He organized the petitioning of voters and say he will take the issue to court.