TENNESSEE

Election Information

Upcoming Elections

2008 State Primary Election: 8/7/08

2008 General Election: 11/4/08

Registration Deadlines

27 days before an election

Specific Deadlines:

2008 State Primary Election: 7/8/08
2008 General Election: 10/6/08

Where to Obtain Registration Forms

Register Online Now
Download registration form
Election Commissions office
Division of Motor Vehicles
WIC program
Department of Human Services
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Public libraries
County clerk
Register of deeds offices
Post Office

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting is allowed if the voter is:

A member of the Armed Forces or a spouse or dependent of a member of the Armed forces
A U.S. citizen living overseas who will be at least 18 years of age before the next general election and whose last residence prior to going overseas was in TN.
Going to be out of the county during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
Is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county of registration or is the spouse of a student
Medically unable to vote in person. As certified by a statement of the physician that must be filed not less than 5 days before the election and signed under the penalty of perjury
In a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside that voter’s county of residence
Unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court
At least 65 years of age
A person with a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place
Hospitalized, ill, or physically disabled and because of such condition, cannot vote in person
A caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled
A candidate for office in the election
An Election Day official or a member or employee of the election commission
Unable to vote in person during the early voting period and on Election Day because of a religious holiday
In possession of a valid commercial driver’s license and certifies that he or she will be working outside the state or county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day

Rules and Deadlines

Absentee ballots can be found with the Election Commission and must be requested by seven days before an election. Ballots must be returned to the County Election Commission.
Ballot must be received by mail by the close of polls on Election Day.

Early Voting

Yes, for all registered voters at the county election commission office within the posted hours starting 20 days before the election and ending 5 days before the election.

Identification Requirements

At registration:

Current and valid photo identification or
A current utility bill,
Bank statement,
Government check,
Paycheck,
Other government document that shows the name and address of the elector

At Polls, voter will be required to show ID:

If voting for the first time in TN,
If registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003; and
If not previously met the identification requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

Current and valid photo identification or
A current utility bill,
Bank statement,
Government check,
Paycheck
Other government document that shows the name and address of the elector

At polls, voters must sign an application for a ballot. The voter’s signature and information on the signature list is compared with other evidence of identification supplied by the voter. Voters must show any document with the voter’s name and signature.

Acceptable forms of the above documents include:

Voter registration certificate
Tennessee driver’s license
Social Security card
Credit card bearing voter’s signature
Other document bearing voter’s signature

How to check registration

Contact your County Election Commission

How to locate polling place