NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Democratic Party today announced the launch of a statewide Voter Protection Program designed to ensure eligible Tennessee voters can fully participate in the 2026 General Election on November 3. The program will be led by the Tennessee Democratic Party’s new Statewide Director of Voter Protection, Clay Capp, the Metropolitan Nashville District 6 Councilmember, who was most recently the Executive Director of Davidson County Democratic Party, formerly with the Metro Nashville Public Defender’s Office, and former Legal Director for the Tennessee Justice Center. Supported by an investment from Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Leadership PAC (Ready PAC), the program will build voter protection infrastructure across all 95 counties, including trained volunteers, voter assistance resources, real-time issue documentation, polling information, and a statewide escalation process for election-related concerns. The program comes as communities across Tennessee navigate concerns due to increased presence of federal agencies, heightened public attention around elections, and ongoing questions about access to the ballot. More information about volunteering and getting involved in the program can be found here.

The following is a statement from Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County: 

“Every Tennessean should understand how, when, and where to vote. This program will cut through the barriers, help voters understand their rights, navigate any obstacle deliberately placed in their way, and ensure that when their rights are threatened, someone is ready to stand with them. This is about making sure voters know their voice matters and their vote is worth protecting. It’s about more than one campaign, one candidate, one election.”

The following is a statement from Rachel Campbell, Chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party: 

“Tennesseans deserve the information and resources to fully participate in our democracy. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor O’Connell and the energy of all our 95 county parties across the state, we will make sure that voters have the confidence and assistance to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Trump and this Republican Supermajority will lie, cheat, and steal to keep and expand their power–but this first step, not just in our largest cities, builds statewide infrastructure that lifts all Tennesseans now and for years to come.”

The following is a statement from Clay Capp, Statewide Director of Voter Protection of the Tennessee Democratic Party: 

“Our goal is simple: wherever a Tennessean is casting a vote, our assistance will be available to help.  As Mayor O’Connell said, from Dollywood to the delta, we’re building and activating a statewide operation of volunteers ready to support voters, identify issues, document them, and elevate them to our network of state and national legal experts to guarantee they are resolved quickly and never happen again.”

The following is a statement from Luis Mata, Communications & Deputy Executive Director of the Tennessee Democratic Party: 

“As a formerly undocumented immigrant and now U.S. citizen, getting to choose the direction of the country and fully participate in our democracy is a cherished duty that must be protected at all costs, especially in the face of increased fear from federal agencies in our neighborhoods that can cause a profound ripple effect. Our job is to make sure fear, intimidation, and uncertainty do not keep eligible voters from exercising their rights.”