A lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action status against the commission alleging runoff elections will fall on a Jewish holiday and will prevent such people from voting. The suit alleges the scheduling of the election deprives observant Jews of their rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, and the Fourteenth Amendment right to Equal Protection of the Laws. The lawsuit was filed in US District Court challenging the actions of the Davidson County Election Commission in scheduling runoff elections for September 13, the day of the religious holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The lawsuit claims the timing of the runoff could prevent observant Jewish voters from casting their votes.
Rosh Hashanah is a high holy day in the Jewish faith that literally translates to "head of the year." Along with Yom Kippur, which follows ten days afterward, Rosh Hashanah is generally considered among the most important Jewish holidays.
