Imagine you walk into a voting booth for your state parliament, look at the ballot, and there's just a blank line. No candidates, no parties. That is what voters in Memphis face in Tennessee House District 93 on 3 November 2026.
Here is how it happened, how a write-in vote works, and why uncontested elections start much closer to home than you might think.
In this article
- An Empty Ballot in Memphis: Just a Blank Line
- One Signature Short: Why District 93 Has No Candidates on the Ballot
- Five Write-In Candidates for Tennessee House District 93
- How Does a Write-In Vote Work?
- Uncontested Elections: When Nobody Runs for the Small Seats
- FAQ
An Empty Ballot in Memphis: Just a Blank Line
On most ballots you tick a box next to a name. In District 93 there is no name to tick. Voters have to write the name of their candidate in themselves.
That means you'd better know who you're voting for, because the ballot won't tell you.
One Signature Short: Why District 93 Has No Candidates on the Ballot
To get on the ballot, candidates in Tennessee have to submit a petition with a minimum number of valid signatures from registered voters. In District 93, nobody qualified for the ballot.
The long-time representative of the district missed it by a single signature. One missing signature, and the seat is open to anyone whose name voters are willing to write down.
Five Write-In Candidates for Tennessee House District 93
There are five write-in candidates running for the seat. None of them appears on the ballot. Stating a party is optional, and whoever gets the most votes wins.
For voters, this turns the election into a test of name recognition: the candidates have to make sure people know their name and how to write it.
How Does a Write-In Vote Work?
A write-in vote means writing a person's name on the ballot instead of choosing from a printed list. In Tennessee, write-in candidates have to register in advance for their votes to be counted.
Write-in options exist in many US states, mostly as a backup. A race where the write-in line is the only option at all is rare, at least at state level.
Uncontested Elections: When Nobody Runs for the Small Seats
As absurd as it sounds, this is actually everywhere. I became a parents' council member because nobody else ran. Sports clubs, associations, school boards: lots of seats are filled because exactly one person was willing to stand.
Democracy doesn't start failing at the top. It starts right where we are, when nobody shows up for the small seats.
If you organise elections in a club or association, make it easy to take part: announce candidacies early, explain the role clearly, and let members vote even if they can't make it to the meeting. You'll find practical tips in our tutorials and best practices for online voting.
FAQ
Why are there no candidates on the District 93 ballot in Memphis?
Nobody qualified for the ballot in Tennessee House District 93. The long-time representative missed the required signatures by a single one.
How many write-in candidates are running in Tennessee House District 93?
Five. None of them is printed on the ballot, so voters have to write the name in themselves.
How does a write-in vote work?
Instead of ticking a printed name, you write the candidate's name on the blank line of the ballot. The candidate with the most votes wins.
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