Editor’s note: This is the second in a weekly series of stories leading up to Lakeland’s historic $50M bond vote. Both sides are invited to send comments and photos to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
Another Lakeland story, containing photos and quotes provided by Lakeland citizens, will post to this website later today (April 2); comments are still coming in.
While the “Vote No” and the “Vote Yes” sides are still sparking debates about the $50 million municipal bond issuance for a new school in Lakeland, citizens are steadily trekking to the polls.
The Shelby County Election Commission posts daily updates on its website at shelby-votes.com.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the latest figures showed that 829 people out of more than 8,000 eligible registered voters have already voted.
Early voting is 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday through April 11 at Lakeland Elementary. On referendum day, voting is 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at Lakelanders’ regular polling places.
The bond would fund the purchase of land and the design and construction costs of a combined middle/high school.
Voter turnout
As of Tuesday, early voting showed this breakdown of voters by age:
- 1.2%, ages 18-24
- 4.7%, ages 25-34
- 29.2%, ages 35-44
- 21.8%, ages 45-54
- 15.0%, ages 55-64
- 28.1%, ages 65 and older
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
