How to vote in Tennessee
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Tennessee voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Tennessee registration using the Tennessee voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Tennessee you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Tennessee
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- not be adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction (or have been restored to legal capacity)
You can register to vote online if you have Tennessee driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued photo ID card.
- Visit the Tennessee online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Your full social security number is required in order to register to vote in Tennessee.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Optional.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 30 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Tennessee driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Tennessee address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Tennessee citizens will be permanently disenfranchised if convicted of any of the following offenses: voter fraud, treason, murder, rape, felony bribery, felony official misconduct, felony interference with government operations, or felony sexual offenses.
As of July 2023, people will felony convictions will only have their rights restored if they receive a pardon from the TN Governor, and pay all fines and fees (including court fees and restitution), and any outstanding child support payments.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You cannot vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Tennessee absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: 90 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Tennessee. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.
You can vote by absentee ballot in Tennessee if:
- you are 60 years of age or older
- you will be outside of your county during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
- you are a full time student outside of your county
- you reside in a nursing home or living facility outside of your county
- you serve as an Election Day official
- you will be unable to vote in person due to jury duty
- you have a physical disability and are unable to vote in person
- you are a member of the military or an overseas citizen
- you are on the permanent absentee list.
Tennessee does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Tennessee absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include your full social security number on your absentee ballot application.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
The signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected. Additionally, if you hand-deliver your voted ballot you will need to show a government issued photo ID to the election official. Student IDs are not considered valid in Tennessee.
Track your ballot here: Tennessee absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by the close of polls on Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You may apply for an emergency absentee ballot starting 20 days before Election Day if you are hospitalized. Your ballot must be witness by another registered voter.
You may be eligible to vote "absentee by personal appearance" between 5 days and 1 day before the election if
- there is a death in your family and you will be attending a funeral outside the county on Election Day; or
- you receive a subpoena or service of processing that requires your presence on Election Day
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends before polls open on Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Tennessee early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 5 days before Election Day
You must show photo ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by the State of Tennessee or the Federal Government, including an employee ID. You cannot use a student ID to vote in Tennessee. If you could not get an acceptable ID because of financial burden or religious objection, you may sign an affidavit and vote in person.
Tennessee voter ID guide
You must show photo ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by the State of Tennessee or the Federal Government, including an employee ID. You cannot use a student ID to vote in Tennessee. If you could not get an acceptable ID because of financial burden or religious objection, you may sign an affidavit and vote in person.
You must include your full social security number on your absentee ballot application.
The signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected. Additionally, if you hand-deliver your voted ballot you will need to show a government issued photo ID to the election official. Student IDs are not considered valid in Tennessee.
You can register to vote online if you have Tennessee driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued photo ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Tennessee elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Coordinator of Elections Tennessee Tower, Seventh Floor 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave. Nashville, TN 37243‐1102