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The Student News Site of Middle Tennessee State University

MTSU Sidelines

The Student News Site of Middle Tennessee State University

MTSU Sidelines

A sign reminding voters to have their Tennessee or federal photo ID ready in order to vote at Central Magnet School on November 5, 2024. (Photo by Bailey Brantingham)

MTSU out-of-state students registered to vote in Tennessee misunderstand ID requirements, forced to vote provisionally

Many MTSU out-of-state students voted provisionally on Nov. 5 because they were unaware that state law requires voters to present a valid Tennessee photo ID or federal ID, such as a passport, for their ballot to be counted.
Voters wait in line at Central Magnet School at 7:05 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2024, for Election Day. (Photo by Hannah Carley)

Election Day sees slow voter turnout in Rutherford County

Emma Burden and Hannah Carley November 5, 2024

Evening Entering the SportsCom voting location, Shane Reeves, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump supporters lined the street. It was immediately clear that the SportsCom had a higher turnout than...

Tennessee Democrats unanimously voted to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris at the DNC next month. (Photo from Sidelines Archive)

First time watching an election? Here’s a guide to the terms used in coverage

Jenene Grover, News editor November 5, 2024
Election Day and its coverage use terms you may have never heard before, are not quite sure about or you only hear every four years. Here’s a dictionary of some of the terms you might see or hear tonight while watching the coverage.
The election commission is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. (Photo by Makayla Sulcer)

What do poll workers do? Election Day’s unsung heroes

Maia O'Brien, Staff reporter November 4, 2024
Poll workers are an essential part of the election and voting process and are often overlooked for how much they do. They work to make sure elections are accessible and fair while also assisting voters of all ages and party affiliations. They set up equipment, verify voter registration, explain the process to voters and count ballots. In the 2020 presidential election, about 159 million people cast ballots. 
Polling locations in Rutherford County are marked by signs indicating that people can vote there. (Photo by Samantha Hearn)

Are Rutherford County’s new house districts fair?

Noah McLane, Lead news reporter November 3, 2024
Tuesday is Election Day, and Rutherford County has three state House District (HD) seats up for grabs: HD13, HD37 and HD49. The current district maps were challenged in court, with the plaintiffs citing racial gerrymandering, but a 2019 Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for judges to block the suits. 
A "Vote" sign outside of a local polling location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Kayla Walker)

Do first-time voters believe AI spreads misinformation on social media?

Jenene Grover, News editor October 31, 2024
The creation of the internet localized information and made it convenient to access. The creation of AI, however, localized and made convenient misinformation.
Citizens receive an "I Voted" sticker after they vote in an election in Tennessee. (Photo by Makayla Boling)

Rutherford County voting precinct housing MTSU clocks lowest early voting turnout

Kailee Shores, Editor-in-chief October 22, 2024
Registered voters began to cast votes in Rutherford County on Oct. 16, when early voting began. Sidelines will track turnout in the county over the course of the early voting period, ending on Oct. 31. We will be looking at the percentage of registered voters that have cast their ballots in the county as a whole as well as comparing turnout between precincts.
The Tennessee Capitol Building (Hannah Ferreira)

Preparing to vote in a supermajority state: MTSU student reflects

Hannah Ferreira, Staff reporter October 20, 2024
For the past decade or so, Tennessee consistently scraped the bottom of the barrel when it came to voter registration and turnout.
Signs indicate that specific locations are polling locations throughout the election in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Photo by Makayla Boling)

Who is on the Rutherford County ballot?

Maia O'Brien, Contributing writer October 14, 2024
Early voting in Tennessee begins Wednesday and goes until Oct. 31, and it is important to be informed on the candidates on the ballot, all the way from president to your state and local level.
Sophomore MTSU students Braxton Orrell and Seth Lindner both plan on voting in Georgia's election, but they differ on how they plan to vote. (Photo by Siri Reynolds)

Absentee vs. in-person: MTSU students decide how they will vote in November 2024

Siri Reynolds, Staff reporter October 11, 2024
Many MTSU students will place their votes on Nov. 5 at a voting location less than half a mile from campus. For students who live outside of Rutherford County, however, much more planning is involved to vote.
Club secretary for the American Democracy Project, Kayla Jenkins, is standing in front of the KUC urging people to register to vote.

Voter registration initiatives have resounding success on MTSU campus

Hannah Ferreira October 9, 2024

Feature photo from the Sidelines Archive Story by Hannah Ferreira Voter registration initiatives on campus, led by the American Democracy Project, had resounding success this year even in the wake...

MTSU's chapter of the American Democracy Project spearheads registering students to vote on campus. (Photo by Bailey Lowe)

When does voting start in Rutherford County? How can you vote early?

Jenene Grover October 2, 2024

Feature photo by Bailey Lowe Story by Bailey Lowe Early voting begins Oct. 16 and continues until Oct. 31 in Rutherford County. Any Tennessee registered voter can vote early, and it can save people...

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