The Vote By Mail for Tennessee campaign got two big boosts today!

The first came from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), which recommended that the state "consider making early voting and voting by mail more accessible" and that the state "consider a Vote By Mail pilot program."

The second came from Brook Thompson, director of the Tennessee Division of Elections, who told us after the meeting that he would be open to setting up a trial of the program. Thompson's support and the TACIR report were two big steps toward bringing Vote By Mail to Tennessee, but there's still lots of work to be done yet.

We're hoping to get legislation yet this session that would enable the trials. If we're unsuccessful, it goes on the agenda for next session.

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But regardless, we must continue to build grassroots support for the program. That means we need to continue our effort to hold VBM programs throughout the state for the public and local elected officials. If we can get public and local leadership support, we'll have a much better chance of getting a trial program approved.

Much of the thanks for this effort goes to Dave Thomas, who has taken the lead in shepherding the issue in the legislature, and Carol Kemp of Democracy for Cumberland County who got the ball rolling.

We've got a long way to go, but we're making great progress. You can help by scheduling a VBM presentation in your community. Contact me for information on how to do it.

Jim Grinstead
Chairman, Democracy for Tennessee