Unfuck Tennessee
Tennessee Voter Information
Tennessee voter registration
First thing’s first, let’s check if you’re registered to vote. Once you’ve filled out this form, scroll down for instructions on how to register or vote if you’re already registered.
Tennessee voter registration
Voter registration deadlines
- In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday, 29 days before Election Day.
- By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, the deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday.
- Online: 30 days before Election Day
Election day registration
N/A
Voter registration rules
To register in Tennessee you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Tennessee
- be at least 18 years old on or before the next election
- not have been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, have had your full rights of citizenship restored (or have received a pardon)
- not be adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction (or have been restored to legal capacity
How to register to vote in Tennessee
- Use our Register to Vote Tool to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Sign and date your form. This is very important!
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide.
- Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.
Registering with felony status
If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.
Tennessee absentee ballots
Absentee ballot application deadlines
- In Person: Received 7 days before Election Day.
- By Mail: Received 7 days before Election Day.
- Online: N/A
Voted absentee ballots are due
Received Election Day.
Absentee ballot rules
You may vote by absentee ballot in Tennessee if:
- you will be outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day;
- you or your spouse are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university but outside the county of registration;
- you will be unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court;
- you are sixty (60) years of age or older;
- you have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place;
- you are hospitalized, ill, or physically disabled and because of such condition, cannot vote in person;
- you are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled;
- you are a candidate for office in the election;
- you serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of Election Day commission;
- you will be observing a religious holiday which prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day;
- you or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and you certify that you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day-;
- you are a member of the military or an overseas citizen;
- a licensed physician has filed a statement with the county election commission stating that, in the physician’s judgment, you are medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed not less than five (5) days before Election Day and signed under the penalty of perjury;
- you reside in a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside the voter’s county of residence. If you are one of the last two, you can apply to be a permanent absentee voter.
How to get an absentee ballot in Tennessee
- Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
- Sign and date the form. This is very important!
- Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We’ll provide the mailing address for you.
- All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. Your Local Election Official will also let you fax or email the application.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
- Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.
Once you get your absentee ballot in Tennessee
- Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
- Sign and date where indicated.
- Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope. (You may not hand-deliver your voted absentee ballot.)
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
tennessee early voting
Early voting starts in Tennessee
20 days before the election.
Early voting ends in Tennessee
5 days before the election.
Tennessee voter ID
In-person voter ID requirements
If you are voting in person in Tennessee, you must present one of the following forms of photo ID when you vote early or on Election Day:
- A Tennessee driver’s license
- A US passport
- Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
- US military photo ID
- Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo A student ID will NOT meet this requirement.
Absentee voter ID requirements
If you’ve voted in Tennessee before, registered in person, or provided ID at the time of registration, you don’t need to provide ID to vote by mail.
If you’re voting in Tennessee for the first time, registered to vote by mail, and didn’t provide ID when you registered, be sure to enclose a copy of your photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address when you return your ballot.
Offsite links
- State Election Website
- Local Election Office : This is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. Theses are the best people to contact if you have any questions at all about voting in your state.
- Find your polling place
- Absentee ballot tracker tool
- Learn more about absentee voting
- Learn more about early voting
- Learn more about voter ID
- State Election Code