The ‘Your Vote Matters’ Program, With TN Secretary of State Tre Hargett
A Chat with TN Secretary of State Tre Hargett About the ‘Your Vote Matters’ Program
On this episode of “Lead Tennessee Radio,” Levoy Knowles and Kim Adkins sit down with Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett to learn more about one of the most important roles of his office — running the state’s election process — and how leveraging the power of the internet has been essential to help more voters understand the importance of participating in the elections and making their vote count.
During this episode, he shares a couple stories to illustrate the importance of voting. “When you don’t vote, you give out power to those who do,” explains the Secretary. He mentions that in more than one occasion, elections for local officials were called by a difference of just a few votes, or resulted in a tie in which just a few more votes would have made the difference. The Secretary of State entered into a partnership with TNBA for a campaign to motivate citizens to get registered to vote ahead of the elections.
The goal is to educate the public about the process of the elections and show how easy it can be to do your part, and using the internet to engage voters has been a substantial piece of the puzzle. The Secretary goes on to explain all the ways that anyone can use the internet to get engaged in the voting process — from registering online or through the app with just a few clicks to research candidates running and connect with friends and family to encourage them to vote. Tre Hargett also offers a few tips for businesses and individuals wanting to get involved in the effort to get more voters to participate.
The “Lead Tennessee Radio” podcast is an opportunity to discuss issues facing Tennessee with state leaders and lawmakers. Past episodes feature House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville; Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge; House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland; Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin; and many more.
“The cooperative and independent telecommunications companies who comprise the TNBA are working hard to ensure that everyone in rural Tennessee has access to this life-changing technology,” said Knowles. “This podcast is a great opportunity to have conversations with state and industry leaders who are on the front lines working for a connected Tennessee.”
“Lead Tennessee Radio” can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play, as well as at the Tennessee Broadband Association website.
