Heavy rains dampened Election Day. Will that affect voter turnout?

The data suggests that, broadly, rain may have a small impact on voters. 

In places with early voting, excess rain on Election Day decreased voter turnout by just 0.2%, according to a study published last fall. A 2017 paper found that an extra inch of rain on Election Day can decrease turnout by nearly 1%.

But there are a lot of variables with turnout.  

Nashville was forecasted to receive at least 1 inch of rain on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, but determined voters still ventured out to the polls across town.  

“It could be flooding, and I would get here,” Rev. Enoch Fuzz said.  

He was on his way out from voting at the Hadley Park Regional Center. He delayed voting a little bit to miss the downpour.  

“This kind of shows why (you should) not wait ‘til the day of the elections,” Fuzz said. 

Kathleen Murphy, a city councilmember who lives in the White Bridge area, said the rain had no impact on when she would vote.  

“This is something I was brought up doing,” Murphy said. “This is a right that many people don’t have.”  

Asher Jones, 19, walked to vote at his local polling place in Sylvan Park.  

“As a young person, I have a voice,” Jones said. “If we don’t express our voice, then we have no room to complain.”