VoterGuide

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Tennessee

Population

6,829,174

Voting-Age Pop.

4,964,909

Last Presidential Election (2016)
Clinton 35 %
Trump 61 %
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Important Dates

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Election Date

Nov 3, 2020

Registration Deadline

Oct 5, 2020

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USPS recommends mailing your ballot no later than October 27.

Source: USPS.com

Info Icon Key Election Information

  • Online Registration

    Yes
  • Early Voting
    Yes
  • Same-Day Registration
    No
  • ID Required
    Yes

Voter Resources

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Register to vote today

Ahead of Election Day, make sure you’re registered to vote and your voting record is up to date. Check out state resources here.

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Mail Outline Icon Absentee/Mail-In Voting

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Absentee/Mail-In Voting

Absentee voting is available to certain registered voters in Tennessee.

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Mail Outline Icon Is this state automatically sending an absentee or mail-in ballot? Chevron Icon

  • No, residents of Tennessee must register for an absentee by-mail ballot for the general election.

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Mail Outline Icon Is this state automatically sending an absentee or mail-in ballot?

No, residents of Tennessee must register for an absentee by-mail ballot for the general election.

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Applications must be received by: Oct 27 Chevron Icon

  • The application must be received by the election commission no later than 7 days before the election, Oct 27.

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Applications must be received by: Oct 27

The application must be received by the election commission no later than 7 days before the election, Oct 27.

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When will I receive my ballot? Chevron Icon

  • At this time, the Tennessee secretary of state website doesn't show a date when the state will begin mailing absentee ballots.


    If you did not receive your ballot, you should notify your county election commission.

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When will I receive my ballot?

At this time, the Tennessee secretary of state website doesn't show a date when the state will begin mailing absentee ballots.


If you did not receive your ballot, you should notify your county election commission.

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Mail Send Icon Return ballot: Received by Nov 3, close of polls Chevron Icon

  • You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

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Mail Send Icon Return ballot: Received by Nov 3, close of polls

You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

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Excuse Icon Excuse required Chevron Icon

  • You can vote absentee by mail if you fall under one of the following categories:


    - You are 60 or older.

    - You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.

    - You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote.

    - Voters who have an illness, physical disability or other underlying health condition that makes them especially vulnerable to Covid-19, and who, because of that condition, are unable to appear in the polling place on Election Day and instead wish to vote by mail should check the box on the application.

    - You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled.

    - You or your spouse is a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.

    - You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.

    - You are a candidate for office in the election.

    - You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.

    - You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.

    - You will be unable to vote in person due to jury duty.

    - You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.

    - You or your spouse possesses a valid commercial driver's license or Transportation Worker Identification Credential card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.

    - You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.

    - You are on the permanent absentee list.

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Excuse Icon Excuse required

You can vote absentee by mail if you fall under one of the following categories:


- You are 60 or older.

- You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.

- You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote.

- Voters who have an illness, physical disability or other underlying health condition that makes them especially vulnerable to Covid-19, and who, because of that condition, are unable to appear in the polling place on Election Day and instead wish to vote by mail should check the box on the application.

- You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled.

- You or your spouse is a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.

- You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.

- You are a candidate for office in the election.

- You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.

- You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.

- You will be unable to vote in person due to jury duty.

- You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.

- You or your spouse possesses a valid commercial driver's license or Transportation Worker Identification Credential card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.

- You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.

- You are on the permanent absentee list.

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Checklist Icon Election Rules & Requirements

Early Voting

Can you vote early in this state?

Yes

The early voting period typically begins 20 days before an election and ends 5 days before an election (Oct 14 to Oct 29.)

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Same-Day Registration

Can you register on Election Day?

No

The voter registration deadline is Oct 5.

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Voter ID Requirements

Is an ID required to vote?

Yes

All voters must present a federal or Tennessee state ID containing the voter’s name and photograph when voting at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day. An expired photo ID is acceptable as long as it was validly issued by the federal or Tennessee state government and contains the name and photograph of the voter. Voters who are indigent can obtain a photo ID without paying a fee. If you don’t bring a photo ID, you will vote a provisional ballot. You will then have two business days after Election Day to return to the election commission office to show a valid photo ID. Upon returning to the election commission office, the voter will sign an affidavit and a copy of the voter’s photo ID will be made to be reviewed by the counting board.

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Acceptable Forms of Identification

Make sure you're ready on Election Day with the appropriate forms of identification. Acceptable forms of ID are listed here.

Data source - sos.tn.gov

Acceptable Forms of ID

Federal Chevron Icon

  • US Passport

  • US Military Photo ID

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  • Photo ID Issued by Tennessee State Government

  • Tennessee Driver License

    With your photo

  • Photo ID Issued by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

  • Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit

    With your photo

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  • You're Exempt If:

    Voting 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.

Additional Voting Resources

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COVID-19 Icon Covid-19 Voting Resources

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Covid-19 Voting

Voting resources regarding Covid-19 are developing.

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Info Icon US Elections FAQ

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US Elections, Explained

What you should know about what's happening with the 2020 election and how it all works.

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