UPDATE: Lawsuits over absentee ballots for Tennessee November elections set for Supreme Court

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in suits involving voting via absentee ballot for the November elections.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett says local election officials are prepared to give residents a safe environment for voting five months from now with specialized training.

Concerns for the elderly and providing a safe environment to vote were at the heart of a lawsuit filed to allow all registered Tennesseans the ability to mail in their vote due to COVID-19.

Hargett said in testimony last week before the US Senate that voting in person is the most secure and private method to cast a ballot. He also cited a case in Georgia where an official ballot was sent to a cat as an example of absentee uncertainty.

The court hearing is set for Thursday.

(PHOTO: GFPcom)