10/14/2026
“Brothers, I’ll be honest with you. This upcoming election season matters to me. I grew up hearing that a voteless people is a hopeless people, and every election reminds me how true that still is. I, just like many of you, have admittedly been looking closer at this for a few weeks.
Whatever your views, I’m asking each of you to make a plan, show up, and bring somebody with you. Before you head to the polls, I want to share a few thoughts on the three constitutional amendments only on this year’s Tennessee ballot so you can walk in informed and confident.” Note: I am not trying to influence YOUR vote for it is exactly that...YOUR VOTE! Allow me to apologize in advance as this is rather lengthy.
As Tennessee voters prepare to consider Amendments 1, 2, and 3, I wanted to look beyond the ballot language and ask a more important question: What do these amendments actually change?
Amendment 1 — Bail
A YES vote would allow judges to deny bail for additional serious offenses when the evidence is especially strong.
The strongest argument for it is public safety. The strongest concern is equally serious: the person has been ACCUSED, but not yet convicted.
At its core, Amendment 1 asks:
When the alleged crime is extremely serious and the evidence is strong, should public safety outweigh the ordinary right to pretrial bail?
Amendment 2 — State Property Taxes
A YES vote would prohibit the State of Tennessee from creating a statewide property tax.
Important distinction: this DOES NOT eliminate county or city property taxes.
The argument for it is long-term protection for property owners. The concern is that it permanently removes one revenue option from future legislatures, even during circumstances we cannot predict today.
The real question is:
Should today’s voters permanently prevent future Tennessee legislatures from ever imposing a statewide property tax?
Amendment 3 — Crime Victims’ Rights
A YES vote would expand constitutional protections for crime victims, including stronger rights to notice, participation, safety, restitution, and being heard during important stages of the criminal justice process.
The strongest argument is that victims deserve meaningful constitutional protection. The concern is making sure those expanded rights never interfere with the due-process rights of someone who has not yet been convicted.
The central question is:
Should crime victims have a stronger and more detailed set of rights written directly into the Tennessee Constitution?
For me, the most important thing to remember is this:
Constitutional amendments should not be judged only by whether we trust the people exercising power today. We should ask whether we would be comfortable with that same power being exercised by people we strongly disagree with twenty years from now.
Amendment 1 expands government authority.
Amendment 2 restricts government authority.
Amendment 3 expands constitutional rights within the justice system.
That is the lens I wanted to share, straight forward with no slogans, no party affiliation, and no emotion, but a clear understanding of what we are actually placing into our State Constitution. Please get out and exercise your RIGHT to VOTE!! See less
