East Tennessee REALTORS® recommends “No” vote on at-large referendum
East Tennessee REALTORS® recommends a “No” vote on Question 2, known as the at-large referendum, on the upcoming November 5 ballot.
While the stated aim of the at-large referendum is to give voters more influence over the entire City Council representation, East Tennessee REALTORS® members are concerned that the actual outcome of the amendment will be erasure of neighborhood voices.
Voting “No” against the referendum preserves the right of district residents to locally select their Knoxville City Council representative. A “Yes” vote would introduce a fully at-large election structure where every voter votes on all candidates, removing the current district influence and allowing the tide of the majority to override district needs.
East Tennessee REALTORS®, a nonpartisan trade association with more than 2,897 members in the City of Knoxville, urges voters to choose “No” on Question 2.
- Neighborhoods across the city are diverse and unique. As every REALTOR® knows, resident demographics and needs – especially housing – vary greatly between districts. It is imperative that councilmembers answer to their district when making housing, zoning and community decisions which directly and immediately impact constituent lives.
- Knoxville maintains its balance of citywide and district interests through a blend of six district seats and three at-large seats. The state Legislature has mandated that in all Tennessee cities, district representatives must be elected by district voters. The referendum would upset this balance and circumvent the intent of the state mandate by removing the six district seats.
- Knoxville tried the at-large model in 1960. In 1968, residents overwhelmingly voted to restore district representation, noting that the at-large system did not provide fair representation.
- At-large voting is prohibited at the federal level. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects the right to vote and aims to prevent voter discrimination, prohibits at-large federal elections on the basis that the at-large system can enable discrimination and dilute the vote of minority groups.
The unique current system, in which city voters select candidates in a district-only primary and then vote for on all district candidates in the general election, was outlawed by the state in 2023. If the at-large referendum fails, the district-only model will automatically take effect for the six district seats. In either outcome, the current three at-large seats will remain unchanged as city-wide contests.
“East Tennessee REALTORS® works to proactively educate our members and the public, as part of our efforts to support policies that build strong communities, protect property rights and promote a vibrant business environment” said Justin Bailey, East Tennessee REALTORS® 2024 board president. “We have a responsibility to our members and their neighborhoods to amplify their voices and ensure they are heard and represented.”
The general election will be held on Nov. 5, 2024, with early voting running from Oct. 16-31. For additional information, visit knoxcounty.org/election.
About East Tennessee REALTORS®
Founded in 1912 and evolving from the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS®, East Tennessee REALTORS® has been serving the real estate interest of its members and the public for more than 100 years. The association comprises 12 counties in the region: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Union. The purpose of East Tennessee REALTORS® is to unite and serve its members and to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business ethically, professionally and successfully and to promote the preservation of the right to own, transfer and use real property. For more information, visit etnrealtors.com