Nashville Council District 23 Voter Guide: What to Know in West Nashville

Incumbent councilman Thom Druffel thought he might be up for an easy reelection — until challenger Lisa Williams made her bid to represent Nashville District 23.

The Nashville Metropolitan General Election is on Thursday, August 3, 2023. Nashville voters in Council District 23 will have the chance to cast their votes in four key races — for mayor, vice mayor, councilmember at large, and their District 23 councilmember.

Here are a few key questions voters are asking leading up to election day, with the answers you need to show up as an informed voter:

Who’s on my ballot?

All Nashville voters will have the chance to vote for mayor, vice mayor, and councilmember at large. To learn more about who’s on the ballot in each of these races, check out our 2023 Nashville Voter Guide or view a sample ballot here.

In addition to these city-wide seats, each of the 35 Metro Council districts in Nashville will have the opportunity to elect their next representative. Since 2019, Thom Druffel has served as District 23’s councilmember. He is now running for reelection against Lisa Williams.

Of the two candidates, only Lisa Williams is a GoodParty.org Certified candidate. Being GoodParty.org Certified means that Williams has pledged to run a clean, nonpartisan campaign based on small donors and good ideas. 

About Lisa Williams

• Occupation: Community Activist

• Background: Lisa Williams has lived in Nashville for the past 14 years. A graduate of Crichton College in Memphis, Tennessee, she has worked at NASA, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and as a stay-at-home mom. Lisa founded the nonprofit BuyNothing Nashville, which seeks to redistribute free resources to Nashville’s most underserved populations. Lisa has also served as a board member for the Friends of Fort Nashborough and HostelOn.

• Policy Platform: Lisa Williams’ policy priorities include:

  • Advocating for participatory budgeting

  • Funding fire and rescue services to keep up with Nashville’s growing population

  • Improving the city’s stormwater management system and updating aging infrastructure

How to Learn More: To learn more about Lisa Williams’ campaign, visit her campaign website or her GoodParty.org candidate page.

When is the election?

The Nashville Metropolitan General Election is on Thursday, August 3. Polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you cannot vote on August 3 or would rather vote early, early voting is another option for you. Early voting runs from now through Saturday, July 29. Times vary between days, so check Nashville’s early voting schedule if interested.

Where’s my polling place?

To find your polling place, enter your address here. You can also download the GoVoteTN app to find your polling location and other helpful information for election day. 

Early voting locations may be different from standard polling places. Belle Meade City Hall is one of Nashville’s early voting locations.

What do I need to bring with me to vote?

Make sure you bring the correct form of identification with you to your polling place. You can bring any of the following forms of ID:

• Tennessee driver’s license with your photo

• United States passport

• A photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

• A photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government

• United States military photo ID

• Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo

What else should I know to vote in West Nashville?

As you get ready to vote in Belle Meade or West Meade, here are a couple points to keep in mind:

• As you consider which candidate to vote for, think about the issues and values that are most important to you. What do you want the future of Nashville to look like?

• Voter turnout in local elections is usually very low, so your vote has a real impact on the outcome of the election! Encourage your friends and family to vote with you.

Voting and expressing your political opinion is incredibly important, so if you’re planning on voting, you’re already exceptional! To learn more about GoodParty.org Certified candidates running in Nashville, check out our Nashville independent voter guide.