Voting In Tennessee
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Tennessee:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year, click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration[edit]
Eligibility and registration details[edit]
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Tennessee, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[1]
Prospective voters can register online, by mailing a voter registration application to the county election commission, or in person at a variety of locations including the county clerk’s office, the county election commission office, public libraries, and numerous state agencies. Registration must be completed 30 days before an election.[1]
In-person voting[edit]
Poll times[edit]
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
Each county election commission must determine the opening time for polling places in the county at least 15 days before an election, with certain requirements based on county population. All polling places close at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST). The polls must be open for a minimum of 10 consecutive hours, but not more than 13 hours. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2][3]
Voter identification[edit]
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Tennessee requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[4]
Voters can present the following forms of identification, even if expired:[5]
- Tennessee driver’s license with photo
- United States passport
- Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
- United States Military photo ID
- Tennessee handgun carry permit with photo
First time voters who register by mail or online can not use an expired ID. If they do not have a currently valid ID, they may use the following to vote at the polls:[5]
- A copy of a current utility bill
- Bank statement,
- Government check,
- Paycheck
- Other government document that shows the voter’s name and address.
The following voters are exempt from the photo ID requirements:[5]
- Voters who vote absentee by mail
- Voters who are residents of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center and who vote at the facility
- Voters who are hospitalized
- Voters with a religious objection to being photographed
- Voters who are indigent and unable to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee
Voters can obtain a free photo ID from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security at any participating driver service center. In order to receive an ID, a voter must bring proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement). Visit the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Voter Photo ID page for more information.[4]
Early voting[edit]
- See also: Early voting
Tennessee permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting begins 20 days before an election and ends five days before an election, except for presidential primaries, when early voting closes seven days before the primary. Early voting is held at county election commission offices and satellite voting locations.[6]
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
Only certain voters may vote absentee by-mail in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee secretary of state's office:[7]
| “ |
You can vote absentee by-mail if you fall under one of the following categories:
NOTE: If you reside in a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, home for the aged, or an independent living facility on the same property as a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, or home for the aged inside your county of residence, you may not vote absentee by-mail. Election officials will come to the facility to vote eligible residents, or you may vote during early voting or on Election Day.[8] |
” |
Absentee ballot applications may not be submitted more than 90 days before an election and must be received by the county election commission no later than 10 days before an election. The completed ballot must be returned by mail and received by the county election commission by the close of polls on Election Day.[7]
Local election officials[edit]
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]
- See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony
In Tennessee, people convicted of certain crimes never regain the right to vote. According to the secretary of state's website: [9]
| “ |
You cannot have your voting rights restored if you were convicted of any of the following permanently disqualifying felonies during these time periods:
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Individuals convicted of other felonies lose their right to vote while subject to a sentence. If the conviction occurred before May 17, 1981, then the individual can register to vote normally after the completion of their sentence. If the conviction occurred after that date, then the individual must apply for a court order to have their voting rights restored.
According to the secretary of state's website:[9]
| “ |
To get a court order, you must meet all the following:
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Once a court order is granted, an individual must take the following steps before their rights are restored:[9]
| “ | If the court order was issued on or after May 2, 2025:
If the court order was issued before May 2, 2025:
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Click here to view the secretary of state's resource on the restoration of voting rights.
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[10]
Contact information[edit]
Election agencies[edit]
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Tennessee can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Tennessee County Elections Commission
- Click here for a list
Tennessee Secretary of State, Elections Division
- 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
- 7th Floor, Snodgrass Tower
- Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1102
- Phone: 615-741-7956
- Toll free: 1-877-850-4959
- Email: tennessee.elections@tn.gov
- Website: http://sos.tn.gov/elections
Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance
- 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
- WRS Tennessee Tower, 26th Floor
- Nashville, Tennessee 37243
- Phone: 615-741-7959
- Email: registry.info@tn.gov
- Website: https://www.tn.gov/tref/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker[edit]
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State of Election Administration Legislation Reports[edit]
Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state. These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
Below are links to the most recent editions. Click here to see all past reports, and be on the lookout for more throughout the year!
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2025 Spring Report
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Year-End Report
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Mid-Year Report
The Ballot Bulletin[edit]
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues[edit]
Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 25, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 18, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 11, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: June 27, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: June 20, 2025
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Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]
See also[edit]
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voter ID in Tennessee
- Election administration in Tennessee
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Tennessee
Elections in Tennessee[edit]
- Tennessee elections, 2025
- Tennessee elections, 2024
- Tennessee elections, 2023
- Tennessee elections, 2022
- Tennessee elections, 2021
- Tennessee elections, 2020
- Tennessee elections, 2019
- Tennessee elections, 2018
- Tennessee elections, 2017
- Tennessee elections, 2016
- Tennessee elections, 2015
- Tennessee elections, 2014
External links[edit]
- Official state election website
- U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-3-201," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-127," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "What ID is required when voting?" accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide on ID Requirements when voting," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "How to Early Vote - In Person," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide to Absentee Voting," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Restoration of Voting Rights," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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