MEMPHIS — Voters in Memphis and Shelby County will head to the polls on August 6, 2024, for an election that combines a county general election with federal and state primaries on a single ballot. The county general election will determine winners for county mayor, sheriff, judges, court clerks, and school board members, while the primary portion will select candidates for the November general election.

The August primary is a nominating exercise for higher offices, including Tennessee governor, a U.S. Senate seat, congressional seats, and state legislative positions. Voters in Memphis and Shelby County will participate in both local, state, and federal elections across the two major voting dates this year—August and November.

Memphis operates under a mayor-and-council form of government, which voters approved in 1966 and which was formally established in 1968. Under this system, residents elect the mayor and all 13 members of the City Council to four-year terms. City officials are limited to two consecutive terms, though former officials may run again after sitting out one term—a restriction voters enacted in 2010.

The Memphis City Charter, which has governed the city since it adopted home rule in 1963, outlines how power is distributed and exercised. It grants the mayor authority to appoint department heads, including the chief of police—a position that does not appear on the ballot. If an elected official leaves office early, the City Council selects a temporary replacement.

Voters have the ability to amend the charter directly, provided no state or federal laws are violated. They have exercised this power multiple times, including approving term limits in 2010 and making six charter changes in 2008. That same year, Memphis voters also approved instant runoff voting—also known as ranked choice voting—for single-office elections like mayor.

The system, written into the charter, requires voters to rank candidates by preference, with a majority winner declared outright or through sequential elimination if no candidate receives over 50% of first-choice votes. Despite its adoption 16 years ago, instant runoff voting has never been implemented in a Memphis election.

Residents can also recall the mayor or a council member after they’ve served two years in office, provided a petition signed by 10% of voters from the last city election is filed. Removal requires a simple majority vote. Additionally, Memphis voters previously selected October as the city’s election month in 1966, though the upcoming key election is scheduled for August.

To vote, residents must present a valid photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Tennessee state government, or the federal government. Expired IDs from those entities are accepted, but student IDs, library cards, and out-of-state driver’s licenses are not. A voter registration card shows polling location but cannot be used as identification to receive a ballot.

Voters who have moved must update their address by August 1. Those with inactive registration status may still vote by verifying their current address in writing with the Election Commission.