Knoxville — Charter amendment: no runoff when a council candidate wins a primary majority

What it does

CHARTER AMENDMENT SUBMITTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE PERTAINING TO THE ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL: SHALL ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 707(B) and 707(C) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT IF A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL RECEIVES A MAJORITY OF ALL VOTES CAST IN THE PRIMARY FOR THE DESIGNATED SEAT THE CANDIDATE SHALL BE DECLARED ELECTED WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF A RUNOFF AND A CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION SHALL BE ISSUED TO SUCH CANDIDATE, ALL AS MORE FULLY SET FORTH IN ORDINANCE No. O-62-2026 OF THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE AS DULY PUBLISHED? THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER'S COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT IS $0.

A YES vote means

A Knoxville City Council candidate who wins a majority of all votes cast in the primary for that seat would be declared elected without a runoff.

A NO vote means

The charter would not be changed to skip the runoff when a council candidate wins a primary majority.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Tennessee adds a second test for constitutional amendments: YES votes must also be more than half of the votes cast for governor, so leaving it blank works against it.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Knoxville mean?

A Knoxville City Council candidate who wins a majority of all votes cast in the primary for that seat would be declared elected without a runoff.

What does a NO vote on Knoxville mean?

The charter would not be changed to skip the runoff when a council candidate wins a primary majority.

How many votes does Knoxville need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Tennessee adds a second test for constitutional amendments: YES votes must also be more than half of the votes cast for governor, so leaving it blank works against it.

Should I vote yes or no on Knoxville?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.