FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2020
#20-23

CONTACT: Samantha Fisher
615.741.5860
samantha.fisher@ag.tn.gov

STATEMENT FROM AG SLATERY FOLLOWING ABSENTEE VOTING
DECISION
Nashville- This evening Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ordered state
government to abandon long standing requirements for in person voting.
Tennessee, like all states, must engage in a delicate balancing act: it must safeguard voters from
COVID-19 exposure while ensuring that voters are not disenfranchised.
Tennessee’s election officials consulted with experts from the Tennessee Department of Health
and county health departments to create a comprehensive COVID-19 election plan that conforms
to the CDC’s guidance and makes Tennessee’s polling places safer than the general community.
The Court’s ruling, while rightly taking into account the safety of Tennessee’s voters and poll
workers, failed to appropriately consider the extensive safety measures of the COVID-19
election plan, and, more importantly, gave little weight to the unanimous expertise of state and
county election officials that hastily expanding absentee voting is impracticable and risks
disenfranchising Tennessee voters. The Court’s order has taken this important decision away
from Tennessee’s state and county election experts and unnecessarily risks voter confusion,
potential voter fraud, and election disruption.
“It is yet another court decision replacing legislation passed by the people’s elected officials with
its own judgment, largely ignoring the practicalities of implementing such a decision, and doing
so in the midst of a pandemic and budget crisis,” said Herbert H. Slatery III.

P.O. Box 20207, Nashville, Tennessee 37202

www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral