Knoxville's vice mayor: Bill in legislature would limit your voting rights | Opinion

Andrew Roberto
·4 min read

A bill moving forward in the Tennessee General Assembly would disenfranchise Knoxville voters in the selection of district representatives on Knoxville City Council. SB0526 could be heard by the Senate’s State and Local Government Committee between now and early April. If passed and signed into law, the bill would limit Knoxville voters to voting for only their district representative, rather than all city voters being empowered to participate in each district’s citywide general election under our current system.

I strongly oppose this legislation because the voice of Knoxville city voters should not be limited to district-only voting. Our focus should be on expanding voters' connection to their representatives, not limiting them.

"Vote Here" signs mark the entrance to a polling location for Knoxville City Council at First Church of the Nazarene in West Knoxville on Aug. 31, 2021. A bill in the state legislature would limit Knoxville voters to voting for only their district representative, rather than all city voters being allowed to participate in each district’s citywide general election under our current system.

Citywide voting for council members is nothing new

Knoxville has a long history of citywide voting for all City Council members. Prior to 1969, Knoxville's City Council had seven members, all of whom were at-large representatives. In 1969, a charter change went into effect, expanding council to six district representatives and three at-large representatives. For the past 54 years, all district seats have had a primary in the district with the top two vote-getters moving on to a citywide general election. Since 1969, every representative on City Council from the 6th district has been a person of color, with our present council being the most diverse ever.

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Every current Knoxville City Council member is deeply invested on and knowledgeable on what is happening across Knoxville, and every resident has the ear of all nine members, not just their district representatives. I believe this proposed change would effectively erase these critical inter-district relationships, decrease voter turnout and dramatically limit citizen engagement.

Change would unfairly single out the 5th District

Under present law, all Knoxville city voters can vote every two years, with districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 in one four-year cycle and the District 5 representative, our three at-large council representatives and Knoxville's mayor in a separate four-year cycle two years later. However, if SB0526 becomes law and Knoxville city voters can vote for only their own district representatives, 5th District voters will be able to vote only every four years when their district representative, the city mayor and our three at-large City Council representatives are on the ballot. Singling out the 5th District and limiting those voters to only one vote every four years, when every other district votes every two-years, is completely unacceptable. Every voter in every district deserves an equal voice in their city government.

What home rule means

In 1954, the voters of Knoxville overwhelmingly approved “home rule” by citywide referendum. The home rule amendment found in Article 11, Section 9 of the Tennessee State Constitution transfers the General Assembly’s power to enact legislation affecting a city to the city’s qualified voters and its city government. The effect of this adoption means that a city is guaranteed the right to have local control over matters of local concern, including the form and structure of local government and its operation and functioning.

In part, the amendment states, “any municipality after adopting home rule may continue to operate under its existing charter, or amend the same, or adopt and thereafter amend a new charter to provide for its governmental and proprietary powers, duties and functions, and for the form, structure, personnel and organization of its government … ”

Support for home rule was secured by a vote of 8,079 to 1,679. Article 11, Section 9 of the Tennessee State Constitution further states, “In the event of an affirmative vote by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon, and until the repeal thereof by the same procedure, such municipality shall be a home rule municipality, and the General Assembly shall act with respect to such home rule municipality only by laws which are general in terms and effect.”

As engaged city voters, it is important for you to understand SB0526 and the negative impact it would have on Knoxville’s elections. I urge all Knoxvillians to reach out to legislators on the Senate State and Local Government Committee now to let its members know you oppose SB0526. This unwarranted and extraordinary attempt to undermine and circumvent the will of the people must be stopped.

Andrew Roberto is Knoxville's vice mayor and 2nd District City Council representative.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville's vice mayor: Bill would limit voters' rights