Memphis voters head into Aug. 6 election with Election Day deadline approaching

Memphis voters who did not vote early must plan for Election Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, when polls are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting ended Saturday, Aug. 1. The Shelby County Election Commission says voters should verify their assigned polling location and complete district information before heading to the polls. The commission lists 901-222-1200 as its Election Day information number.

Election Day information

Date: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026
Poll hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Before voting: Confirm your assigned precinct, polling place and individual ballot.

Use the Shelby County Election Commission’s polling-location and district-information lookup to confirm where you are assigned to vote and which contests apply to your address. The early-voting locations listed by the commission were for the completed early-voting period and should not be treated as Election Day polling places.

What Memphis voters are voting on

The Aug. 6 election combines the Shelby County general election with Tennessee state and federal primary contests. Municipal general-election contests may also appear for eligible voters in participating jurisdictions. The official sample ballot includes countywide and district-based contests, but it is not a complete representation of every Memphis voter’s ballot.

Ballot contents depend on a voter’s registered address, district and primary eligibility. Voters should review their own ballot information rather than assume every office or race listed on the countywide sample ballot will appear on their ballot.

County leadership and public offices

The central countywide contest is the Shelby County mayoral race between Republican nominee John DeBerry and Democratic nominee Mickell Lowery. Memphis residents vote within Shelby County, so the contest concerns the county government that operates alongside the city and provides county-level services and administration.

The official sample ballot also lists judicial contests, county commission districts, the sheriff, assessor of property, trustee, county and court clerks, and other county offices. Which of those contests appear will vary by address and ballot eligibility.

School-board races matter to Memphis families

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board contests are also included where applicable. The local voter guide identifies contests in Districts 1, 6, 8 and 9. District 1 incumbent Michelle McKissack and District 9 incumbent Joyce Dorse Coleman are listed as unopposed. District 6 lists T.L. Harris, and District 8 lists Tanya Frey; additional ballot details should be confirmed through the voter’s address-specific information.

Parents, students, school employees and other residents should verify whether their address falls within one of those school-board districts. The races are relevant to Memphis school communities, but they will not appear for every Memphis voter.

Turnout context

The Daily Memphian reported Saturday that early-voting turnout was ahead of 2022 levels in its local comparison, while framing the figures as context for where participation appeared to be heading. The comparison does not determine Election Day turnout or the result of any contest.

Memphis voters who still plan to participate should check their assigned location and ballot before leaving home, plan around the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. voting window, and contact the Shelby County Election Commission with questions.

Sources

• Shelby County Election Commission — Election Day schedule and voter information
• The Daily Memphian — Shelby County election voter guide