Tennessee voters will choose a new governor Tuesday, Nov. 3, in a 15-candidate race that could produce the state's first female governor in its 230-year history.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, leads the field, according to the Tennessean. She faces Democrat Jerri Green, a Memphis City Council member, and 13 independent candidates. The seat is open because Republican Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Central time. All voting on Election Day takes place at each voter's assigned precinct. Voters must bring an acceptable photo ID. The state's GoVoteTN website allows voters to find their polling place, check registration and view results after polls close.

Who's running

Blackburn defeated U.S. Rep. John Rose in the August GOP primary, the Tennessean reported. She took less than 50% of the Republican primary vote, according to Roll Call. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the general election race Solid Republican, Roll Call reported.

Green, the Democratic nominee, has focused her campaign on public education and opposition to data center construction. At an Oct. 27 gubernatorial forum at Middle Tennessee State University, Green said, "It is shameful to me that the only other person who has a chance of winning this race isn't on the stage with us tonight," according to WATE.

Blackburn declined to participate in that forum, Tennessee Lookout reported. It was the first gubernatorial forum in the state in eight years.

Two independent candidates have drawn attention. David Hatley, a Washington County businessman, has put nearly $12 million of his own money into his campaign and accepts no donations, according to Tennessee Lookout. Lauren Pinkston, a former Lipscomb University professor, is also running as an independent.

Polling and the independent factor

WPLN News reported in October that two polls showed conflicting margins. Republican-leaning Spry Research found Blackburn with a 12-point lead over Green. A less established firm, Political Intelligence, put the two major-party candidates within two points.

John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, told WPLN News that both surveys had red flags but that both showed Hatley drawing 12% to 19% of the vote. Both polls put Blackburn in the lead but short of a majority, WPLN reported.

What else is on the ballot

Three proposed constitutional amendments also face voters, according to the Tennessean and WSMV:

  • Amendment 1 would expand the circumstances in which judges can deny bail for people accused of certain serious crimes, including terrorism, second-degree murder and aggravated rape.
  • Amendment 2 would permanently ban a state property tax by adding a prohibition to the Tennessee Constitution. Tennessee has not imposed a state property tax in decades.
  • Amendment 3 would expand constitutional rights for crime victims, including participation in the parole process and notification of offenders' sentencing and release dates.

For an amendment to pass, it must receive more "yes" votes than "no" and the number of "yes" votes must exceed half of all votes cast in the governor's race, WSMV reported.

More than 1.28 million Tennesseans cast ballots during early voting, representing roughly 27% of the state's registered voters, the Tennessean reported.

Williamson County voters also have state Senate and state House races on their ballots. Voters can check their full sample ballot at GoVoteTN.gov. Results will be posted on that site after polls close at 7 p.m.