Standing Together for Voter Empowerment in 2025: The Fight for Fair Elections in Memphis

Voter education and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns are at the heart of Memphis APRI’s mission. Building on a proud tradition of labor and civil rights organizing, the chapter has redoubled its efforts heading into critical local, state, and federal elections. In partnership with other community organizations, the chapter is launching neighborhood canvasses, phone banks, and digital outreach specifically designed to reach Memphis’s most underserved and underrepresented communities.

Earlier this year, Memphis welcomed the opening of a new Community Voter Education Center—a grassroots hub for civic involvement and voter information. The center’s launch, celebrated by local officials and APRI leaders, is a direct response to the confusion and disenfranchisement that have plagued the city’s elections in recent cycles. Programs at the center focus on helping voters understand new district boundaries, learn about candidates and ballot measures, and navigate the practical steps needed to cast a vote confidently and securely.

Facing Legal Barriers Head On

The struggle for fair elections in Tennessee has never been solely about logistics or turnout. Memphis is at the focal point of fierce legal battles over voting rights, many of which have outsized consequences for communities of color and working families. Tennessee’s complex and often-restrictive laws on voting eligibility—especially for individuals with past felony convictions—disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of the state’s citizens.

In Shelby County and beyond, APRI has joined coalitions advocating for a streamlined, transparent, and equitable rights restoration process. With an estimated 470,000 Tennesseans affected by felony disenfranchisement, APRI has convened “Know Your Rights” forums, trained volunteers to assist with restoration paperwork, and provided legal referrals to help eligible residents reclaim their voice at the ballot box. These efforts are especially critical in majority-Black neighborhoods, where the effects of voter suppression and mass incarceration have been most severe.

Despite setbacks, such as the recent dismissal of a major legal challenge to Tennessee’s voting rights restoration process, Memphis APRI remains vigilant. The chapter partners with organizations like the Campaign Legal Center and the Tennessee NAACP to challenge unjust barriers and to push for a future where every Memphian can vote, regardless of their past.

Community Stories: Breaking Down Barriers

Real progress in the movement for voting rights is measured not just in laws changed, but in lives impacted. Throughout Memphis, there are thousands of stories: a grandmother casting a ballot for the first time in decades after regaining her rights; a union member learning how to check their polling location through a trusted APRI volunteer; youth organizing rides to the polls for their elders.

One powerful example is told by a local Memphis resident, Antoine, who, after completing his sentence, thought he would never be able to vote again. Through an APRI-led clinic, Antoine learned about his eligibility for rights restoration, received guidance on the process, and—after months of paperwork—finally walked into his polling place with his head held high. Stories like Antoine’s are a testament to the importance of persistent, locally led education and advocacy.

The Power of Partnerships

APRI’s work for voter empowerment does not happen alone. The chapter is a proud member of the Shelby County Voter Alliance, a coalition of nonpartisan 501(c)3 organizations dedicated to registering voters, ensuring access to the polls, and amplifying the voices of the marginalized. Collaborative efforts—including joint canvassing with labor unions, workshops with faith congregations, and culturally relevant digital campaigns—are hallmarks of Memphis’s approach to democracy building.

During National Voter Education Week and beyond, partners like Votes For All work in tandem with APRI to ensure that every possible barrier—whether it’s lack of information, transportation, or mistrust—is confronted head-on with practical solutions and genuine outreach. These organizations coordinate messaging, share resources, and consistently stress the importance of local civic engagement for policy change.

Watchdogs for Democracy

Perhaps most vital is APRI’s evolving role as a community watchdog for fair democracy. In a region where voting rules can change rapidly and disinformation campaigns are ever-present, APRI members are trained to monitor polling places, report irregularities, and protect vulnerable voters. The organization fields a hotline for reporting issues at the polls and documents potential instances of voter intimidation or suppression.

As part of a 2025 statewide initiative, APRI also keeps a close watch on proposals in the General Assembly that could impact access—ranging from new voter ID rules to changes in early voting procedures. Memphis organizers mobilize quickly to testify at hearings, rally their members, and educate their networks about what political changes mean for ordinary voters.

Looking Forward

The work is far from over. Tennesseans still face barriers at nearly every step of the voting process: complex ID requirements, limited early voting windows, delayed polling place notifications, and language access issues. But the Memphis APRI chapter is committed to expanding its reach—setting even higher targets for voter registration, community engagement, and legal advocacy. As 2025 races intensify, the chapter’s volunteers are energized by a renewed sense of purpose and a deep belief in the power of collective action.

The fight for fair elections in Memphis is about more than policies and turnout rates. It’s about dignity, belonging, and the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, who taught us that democracy only works when it works for all. As Memphis continues its march toward justice, APRI and its partners stand as guardians of that promise—their commitment unwavering, their vision clear, their impact growing with every voice empowered and every ballot cast.