Memphis, Tennessee, Increase Term Limits for City Council and Mayor Amendment (August 2022)

Memphis Referendum
Election date August 4, 2022
Topic Local term limits
Status d Defeated
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers

The Memphis, Tennessee, Increase Term Limits for City Council and Mayor Amendment was on the ballot as a referral in Memphis on August 4, 2022. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported increasing the term limits of the Memphis City Council and mayor to three terms totaling 12 years in office.

A "no" vote opposed increasing the term limits of the Memphis City Council and mayor, thereby maintaining the existing term limit of two 4-year terms.

Election results

Memphis, Tennessee, Increase Term Limits for City Council and Mayor Amendment (August 2022)
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		26,785	33.73%
No		52,618	66.27%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

The measure would have increased the current term limit of members of the Memphis City Council and the office of mayor from two terms to three terms, therefore allowing a maximum of 12 years for a mayor or council member to hold office. The current limit is two 4-year terms. Voters defeated a 2018 charter amendment that would have increased term limits in Memphis.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for this measure was as follows:

“

Shall the Memphis City Charter be amended to increase the number of terms of a person holding or elected to the office of the Mayor or Memphis City Council may be allowed to serve with a maximum of three consecutive 4-year terms?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Memphis Councilman Martavius Jones (Nonpartisan)
• Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland (Nonpartisan)

Arguments

• Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland: "If the referendum passes, I will run for a third term. Our team has improved city services, and although we have implemented changes that have improved Memphis, there is more to be done and more to fight to achieve."
• Memphis Councilman Martavius Jones: "“I look at my first four years and I say I was on a steep learning curve. I’m still learning the planning and zoning process, and that impacts our land use and tax revenue.”

Opposition

Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Tennessee

Memphis Councilman Martavius Jones sponsored the term limit extension resolution. On May 24, the Memphis City Council approved a modified resolution that also extended the mayoral term limit, placing the referendum on the August 4 ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Tennessee

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Tennessee.

How to vote in Tennessee

Poll times

Each county election commission must determine the opening time for polling places in the county at least 15 days before an election, with certain requirements based on county population. All polling places close at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST). The polls must be open for a minimum of 10 consecutive hours, but not more than 13 hours. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Tennessee, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.

Prospective voters can register online, by mailing a voter registration application to the county election commission, or in person at a variety of locations including the county clerk’s office, the county election commission office, public libraries, and numerous state agencies. Registration must be completed 30 days before an election.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Tennessee does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Tennessee has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Tennessee does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state. Click here for more information about determining residency in Tennessee.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Tennessee does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, providing false information on an application "is a felony punishable by not less than two (2) years nor more than twelve (12) years imprisonment or a fine of $5,000 or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Tennessee secretary of state’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Tennessee requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the Tennessee Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

Voters can present the following forms of identification, even if expired:

• Tennessee driver’s license with photo
• United States passport
• Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
• United States Military photo ID
• Tennessee handgun carry permit with photo

First time voters who register by mail or online can not use an expired ID. If they do not have a currently valid ID, they may use the following to vote at the polls:

• A copy of a current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck
• Other government document that shows the voter’s name and address

The following voters are exempt from the photo ID requirements:

• Voters who vote absentee by mail
• Voters who are residents of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center and who vote at the facility
• Voters who are hospitalized
• Voters with a religious objection to being photographed
• Voters who are indigent and unable to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee

Voters can obtain a free photo ID from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security at any participating driver service center. In order to receive an ID, a voter must bring proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement).

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2022
• Local charter amendments ballot measures

Tennessee

• Tennessee 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Tennessee
• Memphis, Tennessee

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas