NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As Tennesseans cast their votes today, civil-rights groups are calling on Gov. Bill Lee to address the issue of voter intimidation at the polls.

Hedy Weinberg, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said voter intimidation includes displaying misleading signage or being aggressively questioned about your citizenship status or criminal record.

She said the letter comes on the heels of President Donald Trump urging his supporters to become poll watchers and to be present at voting locations.

"And we asked him to publicly acknowledge that voter intimidation is a crime," Weinberg explained. "There are Tennessee laws that prohibit that practice, and also to commit to holding everyone accountable who in fact does harass, coerce, intimidate or in any way inflict violence on individuals."

Anyone with concerns at the polls can call a nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE or the Tennessee Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959. Residents can find their nearest polling location and hours by visiting govoteTN.com.

Absentee ballots must be received by county clerks by the close of polls today.

Weinberg said voters heading to the polls should be prepared to wait in line and have a valid photo ID.

She pointed out state leaders have a responsibility to ensure everyone's vote is protected and counted.

"Unfortunately Tennessee has a history of electoral violence against voters of color in the South,"
Weinberg cautioned. "And we wanted to urge the governor, as we did in our letter, to really seize this opportunity to lead and make it clear he believes voting is the cornerstone of democracy."

According to the Secretary of State's Office, more than 2.3 million people have already cast their ballot; more than half of the state's registered voters.


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An Idaho project is working to bridge the political divide harming the country's democracy. The United Vision Project facilitates meaningful conversations between people with differing views. It started in 2020 and has since reached a half million people in 12 states.

Nancy Pelegano, a volunteer with The United Vision Project, said volunteers are trained in the "authentic relational conversations" technique.

"I do not argue with people," she said. "I don't tell people they are wrong. I don't judge. I have a conversation, I listen."

Pelegano joined the project four years ago because of the divisive rhetoric she'd been hearing since Barack Obama's presidency. She wanted to learn what was dividing people and find a way to connect with them on a deeper level to help heal the country.

The program has volunteers, but it also finds people who may be secluded, such as those in rural areas. Pelegano added that many people simply don't feel heard.

"We are reaching folks that people don't talk to, that I think sometimes feel like they are forgotten, and so those conversations can be really powerful and really important," she stressed.

Pelegano said it can be difficult talking to someone with different beliefs than her. People can get angry and she understands there's hurt behind that anger. But she finds these conversations are worth it. Pelegano added that the program has helped her grow as a person and hopes it can also help heal the country's wounded democracy.

"Making a difference by bridging the divide, by talking to people that think differently is very powerful and it's very meaningful work. It makes us understand the work is hard and it is going to continue and we cannot stop doing this. We have to keep talking to each other," she continued.

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In Ohio, the upcoming election could hinge on the voting patterns of unmarried women younger than 55, a group that's proving to be a key demographic in recent polls.

Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, there's a significant opportunity to mobilize this group, especially given their concerns about economic issues and reproductive rights.

"In our latest research, there is a real opportunity among unmarried women under 55. This is a constituency that looks very Democratic, but often feels like the campaigns don't speak to them, that they're not in touch with their lives," she explained.

In Ohio, more than a million unmarried women younger than 55 are eligible to vote. Lake says despite their traditionally low turnout, events such as the abortion initiative have sparked new interest, and added that with only 59% feeling "very motivated" to vote, campaign outreach and engagement will be key.

In addition to reproductive rights, economic concerns, such as the rising costs of housing and healthcare, are front and center for these voters. Lake emphasized that these issues are critical in Ohio, where the contrast between candidates on economic policy could sway undecided voters.

"The price-gouging issue is very, very salient for Ohioans," she explained. "Having someone fight for them to get price gouging down, fight for lower prescription drug prices. The insulin issue and the price of insulin is very salient in Ohio."

Lake added that the focus on unmarried women younger than 55 in Ohio could be a deciding factor, particularly in tight races such as the Senate contest. They could potentially swing the results in favor of the candidates who effectively address their needs.


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Correction: An earlier version of this story had misspelled Cathy Clardy Patterson's first name. (10:16 a.m. MST, Aug. 28, 2024)

New polling showed Americans believe the upcoming presidential election will have a major effect on the future of the U.S. Supreme Court and an Arizona legal expert contends the nation's foundational institutions and principles are being challenged like never before.

Cathy Clardy Patterson, council member of the advocacy group Courage for America and a lawyer, said the scandal-plagued Supreme Court finds itself at an "inflection point." She added the court's legitimacy depends on the confidence citizens have in it but noted it has been plummeting recently because of rulings by the high court.

"I've said to friends, 'I don't even know why I went to law school,' because all of the rules look like they're being skirted," Clardy Patterson explained. "There is no adherence to precedent anymore, they are taking fictitious plaintiffs, they're dealing with hypotheticals that are not before the court."

Just last month, President Joe Biden laid out his plan to reform the court, which includes an enforceable code of ethics, term limits for justices and a constitutional amendment to limit the justices' recent decision on presidential immunity.

Skeptics said it is unlikely Biden can get his proposals over the finish line with a divided Congress and with less than 150 days left in office. Clardy Patterson argued he has taken the important first step to incite change and remains hopeful.

Fewer than half of Americans have a favorable view of the court, while just over half of Americans said they have an unfavorable one, according to the Pew Research Center. While Republicans are more likely to view the conservative majority court in an approving light, Clardy Patterson urged those who have been discouraged to fight against the idea change cannot be achieved.

"If we become active, if we raise this in discussions with our friends, our neighbors, our family members and in turn we become engaged with our members of Congress, we can make a difference," Clardy Patterson contended.

Clardy Patterson emphasized everything is at stake. Data show most Republicans support Biden's proposals, but only expressed support when they did not know Biden was behind them.

"Whether it is in regard to bodily autonomy, whether it is in regard to workers' rights, the environment, there is not an issue that is not on the table," Clardy Patterson stressed. "That is why it is so critical."

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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