In Tennessee, people lose their right to vote after a felony conviction, though in some cases they may be able to get those rights back. Part 1 of our new report series on voting rights restoration takes a closer look at how many Tennesseans are affected. buff.ly/GnknM5o

It’s #GivingTuesday, and all donations to ThinkTN today get matched up to $5k! Help us fuel civic and economic policy research and advocacy in Tennessee. buff.ly/Avos9Rp

📣 Calling all residents of TN's 7th Congressional District -- have you made a plan to vote? Early voting for the Special Election starts TODAY November 12 until November 26, with Election Day on December 2. Find information on polling locations, dates, and times at govotetn.gov.

One year from today, Tennesseans will head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections. Our latest blog post highlights what we can expect to see and the potential challenges that could affect voter turnout: buff.ly/nZYTNev

To keep pace with its growing auto manufacturing industry, Tennessee must confront a critical workforce training gap by making strategic investments that prepare its workforce for these high-skill, high-wage careers. Read our latest blog post for more:

In Nov. 2024, 66% of Nashville voters approved the city’s transportation improvement plan. But funding is only the first step to success – our latest report dives into lessons from Austin, Indianapolis & Phoenix to guide Nashville's next steps toward a world-class transit system.💡 buff.ly/L4C8pCB

Applications are open for our Spring 2026 internship program! If you're an undergrad, grad student, or law student interested in public policy, nonprofit management, or communications, consider our spring opportunities. Apply at buff.ly/2t8sUDD. Application deadline 11/7.

Last Tuesday, nearly 400 Tennesseans joined us from across the state for our first-ever Policy Forum: Driving Tennessee’s Prosperity! From housing & child care to transportation & workforce development, the message was clear: our future depends on collaboration, innovation, and action.

Franklin voters – save the date(s) for your municipal election! Make sure you’re registered to vote by September 29. Visit buff.ly/rxp2P1v for voter registration forms, polling locations, and sample ballots.

We're thrilled to introduce the experts joining us for the housing panel at the ThinkTN Policy Forum on Sept. 30! Stay tuned for more speaker announcements soon! Early Bird ticket prices END TONIGHT (Sept. 5), so register now to secure your ticket: buff.ly/Vb9xV5s

ThinkTN is seeking a Director of Strategy & Development to join our leadership team. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in fundraising, operations, & organizational leadership. Application deadline is Sept. 25. Learn more: buff.ly/9D4fDIu.

New speakers added! Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, business leaders Janelle Reilly & Ralph Schulz, and Mayors Gary Davis & Craig Fitzhugh join our Policy Forum speaker lineup. Check out the rest of our agenda and purchase your early bird tickets: buff.ly/khez26Z

We're excited to introduce our new Research Director, Chris Candelaria! With extensive experience from Vanderbilt University and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Chris will lead research projects for both our Working Families and Strengthening Democracy initiatives. Welcome, Chris!

The National Housing Crisis Task Force, convened by Accelerator for America and Drexel University, has released its State and Local Housing Action Plan to boost and support the housing ecosystem. 15 tools across land, capital, construction, regulation & governance: buff.ly/GwJOZ80

One year from today, Tennesseans will vote in primary elections to choose party candidates for governor, all 9 U.S. House, 1 U.S. Senator, all 99 state House, and 16 state Senate seats. Our latest blog analyzes what we can expect based on historical trends. buff.ly/4WcCrLM

Lexington, TN residents – save these dates for your upcoming municipal election! The deadline to register to vote is August 12. Visit hendersoncoec.com for more information.

To take a short break from a busy summer, the ThinkTN team recently toured the Tennessee State Museum! We had a great time exploring the museum’s extensive collection showcasing our state’s rich history. Thank you to the Tennessee State Museum for hosting us!

Speaker announcement! Business leaders Bill Dunavant III & Matt Kisber, former Governors Bredesen & Haslam, and Mayor Ken Moore join our Policy Forum panels on economy, bipartisan leadership & regional growth. More announcements coming! Early bird tickets available buff.ly/eJPduQ4

Last week, ThinkTN traveled to West Tennessee to meet with community leaders & regional partners in Memphis & Jackson. Grateful to UW Mid-South & MidSouth Development District for hosting and our local board members for productive conversations about regional priorities!

Knoxville residents – save these dates! The deadline for voter registration for the primary election is Monday, July 28th. Visit buff.ly/tAkygrM for polling locations, sample ballots, and voter ID info. #KnoxVotes

A new movement called YIGBY (Yes in God's Backyard) seeks to create 800k+ housing units on unused land owned by churches & religious groups. @Forbes.com discusses how 2.6 million acres of faith-based land can be used for affordable housing:

The ThinkTN office will be closed today in celebration of Independence Day. We hope everyone has a great (and safe) weekend!

Check out @nashvillepost.com's coverage of our After Action Report analyzing Tennessee's 2024 election cycle. Article by @julianneakers.bsky.social

It's July 1st - several laws from this year's legislative session take effect today! Flip through the slides for highlights & read our full #TNLeg summary on our website for more insights into 2025's bills. #TNLeg #votingrightsrestoration #childcare #transportation #paidfamilyleave

While Tennessee voter turnout saw a decrease in the 2024 election cycle compared to 2020, the state’s voter engagement is following an upward trend overall, according to a new report from @thinktn.bsky.social. www.nashvillepost.com/politics/ele...

Registration is open for @thinktn.bsky.social's first-ever policy forum on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Music City Center in Nashville. Civic leaders, experts and community members will engage in meaningful dialogue around some of the most pressing issues facing Tennesseans today. Join us!

July is #NationalParksandRecreationMonth! ThinkTN’s research shows that Tennesseans suffer from some of the highest rates of chronic diseases in the country. Making time for outdoor physical activities can be extremely beneficial in combating these illnesses.

Registration is now open for ThinkTN's 2025 Policy Forum "Driving Tennessee's Prosperity" on Sept. 30 in Nashville. Early bird pricing available for a limited time! buff.ly/tbKoGx9 #ThinkTNPolicyForum

In observance of Juneteenth, the ThinkTN office will be closed today. Since 1865, this day has marked a historic step towards freedom and equality.

Are you an undergrad, grad student, or law student interested in public policy, nonprofit management, or communications? We are now accepting applications for our Fall '25 internship positions! More info at buff.ly/ZyMhCAe. Applications due by July 18.

Our Election 2024 After Action is here! The report analyzes TN’s '24 elections in 3 parts: voter turnout, choice & experience. You’ll also find historical election trends & challenges that continue to prevent would-be voters from casting a ballot. buff.ly/0OVT2oh

ThinkTN President Erin Hafkenschiel took to the stage at #CNU33 in Providence, RI to present “Transit & Mobility: Lessons Learned from Nashville”. This presentation was part of an informative session on successful referenda across the US. Thank you to ‪@cnunewurbanism.bsky.social‬ for hosting!

Erin Hafkenschiel wants to prove that Chattanooga can learn something from Nashville.

We're thrilled to announce ThinkTennessee's 2025 Policy Forum "Driving Tennessee's Prosperity" on Sept 30, 2025 at Music City Center, Nashville! A first-of-its-kind forum on housing, transportation, childcare & workforce development. More info: buff.ly/d16usZI #ThinkTNPolicyForum

It’s #NationalHigherEducationDay! TN Promise & Reconnect have helped 172K+ residents, but we still face a worker shortage with the most in-demand jobs requiring some college education or credentials. See our higher education data: buff.ly/IRNSOEo

ThinkTN Prez Erin Hafkenschiel was featured in this ‪@timesfreepress.bsky.social‬ interview discussing how mobility lessons from Nashville can apply to Chattanooga:

Meet our summer interns! We are thrilled to welcome University of the South student Avery Lewis Stout and Kelly Su from UT Knoxville to the team this summer!

New 4-minute tutorial shows you how to navigate our State of Our State Dashboard! Perfect for policymakers, researchers, and engaged citizens seeking to leverage data to drive positive change. #TNStateDashboard buff.ly/ytd5aaJ

Meet our summer law clerks! We are so excited to welcome UT Knoxville students Chloe Philpot and Ashley Varnedoe to the team this summer!

It's #AffordableHousingMonth! TN communities face growing pressure to create affordable housing options while maintaining neighborhood character. Our research explores policy tools that can help localities reduce housing costs & encourage developers to build more housing tailored to community needs.

Honoring and remembering those who have given their lives in service to our country today. The ThinkTN office will remain closed in observance of Memorial Day.

HIRING: Research Director at ThinkTN! Seeking a passionate, data-driven leader to be responsible for producing high-quality research in support of our policy objectives. Nashville-based, hybrid schedule, 5+ years experience preferred. Applications due June 12. buff.ly/78niIwd

It’s #TransportationWeek! Tennessee ranks #32 in commute time & faces a $26B transportation funding shortfall by 2040. Check out the slides for more stats & potential solutions to TN’s transportation challenges, then find more research on TN's transportation landscape on our website: buff.ly/5lLMlPC

Introducing a new resource from ThinkTN: our Case Study Catalog! Our catalog curates best practices from across the country on various housing, transportation, neighborhoods, & workforce development policy issues. Check it out: www.thinktennessee.org/case-study-c...

Check out this opportunity in applied research in Nashville. We tried to do something like this in Austin back in the day so I can appreciate what my former colleague, Erin Hafkenschiel, is doing with this organization.

HIRING: Research Director at ThinkTN! Seeking a passionate, data-driven leader to be responsible for producing high-quality research in support of our policy objectives. Nashville-based, hybrid schedule, 5+ years experience preferred. Applications due June 12. buff.ly/78niIwd

If you missed this yesterday, you can listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform as well as wpln.org/post/episode...

Our 2025 Legislative Session Summary is here! From voting rights restoration changes to paid leave expansion, see what the TN General Assembly accomplished & what's still on the table for 2026. Read the full analysis here: buff.ly/NmGN3ke #TNLeg #votingrightsrestoration #childcare #transportation

TODAY at noon: Catch ThinkTN’s own Dawn Schluckebier on @thisisnashville.bsky.social discussing how recent legislation impacts TN's health & well-being. She'll share data from our State of Our State Dashboard on everything from education to elections. @wpln.bsky.social #TNLeg #ThisIsNashville

New @forbes.com article by @bfrist.bsky.social highlights how Oregon families save $40/month with community solar. Our energy report shows Tennessee solar costs half as much as gas power, yet we rank 45th in energy efficiency savings. buff.ly/f9R49qS #TNenergy