A new state law could require Knoxville to limit voters for district elections to just those who live in that district. The change requires Knoxville City Council to overhaul how council members are elected and decided in November. The council decided to put the final decision in the hands of the voters.
Question number two gives people two choices: voters citywide will select all council members to represent the whole city or voters who live only in that district will select who will represent them on city council. Councilwoman Amelia Parker sees the change as a danger to Black voters and has been leading the charge to encourage a no vote on ballot question number two. Parker, the first African American voted to an at-large seat in 2019, and re-elected in 2023, believes a change to an all at-large council would result in the loss of the only majority-minority district’s representation. She presented research indicating Black communities would lose voice and representation on the council should all people in a city vote for candidates.
Parker and the City Council Movement have set up town hall meetings for the next few months to bring the issue to the people to allow the public to weigh in on the charter amendment and learn more about the possible effect in the Black community. Others are advocating for a yes vote to move the city to an all at-large voting system.
Black leadership supporting both sides of the issue, including Knoxville’s NAACP and the Reverend Dr. Harold Middlebrook, have spoken in support of the proposed change, choosing to side with Councilmember Andrew Roberto, taking the stance that the charter amendments will restore the right of every registered voter to vote for all nine members of City Council.
