Voter Registration, Early Voting, Polling Places, Voter ID, and Absentee Ballots in Tennessee
To register to vote in Tennessee you must be a citizen of the U.S., a resident of Tennessee, at least 18 years old on election day, and not be adjudicated incompetent by a court. If convicted of a felony the eligibility to register and vote depends upon the crime convicted of and the date of the conviction. If a conviction has been expunged voting is permitted.
Tennessee offers absentee by-mail ballots to voters who will be unable to vote in person under certain circumstances (details below). All other voters are expected to vote in person. Tennessee provides early voting (details below).
Registering to Vote in Tennessee
To vote in Tennessee a resident must be properly registered no later than thirty (30) days before an election. The election commission office processes by-mail voter registration forms postmarked at least thirty days before an election. Tennessee registration applications can be picked up at election offices and public libraries.
Early Voting in Tennessee
Tennesseans can vote early between Oct. 19 and Nov. 3. Dates and times vary by location and they may be different from where Tennesseans vote on Election Day. Early voting locations are typically less crowded. Learn more about voting early in Tennessee from Voter.org.
Polling Places
Look up where to vote from Voter.org.
Tennessee Voter Ident cation Requirements
Photo ID is required to vote in Tennessee. Acceptable forms (can be expired) include:
- Tennessee driver’s license
- US passport
- A photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
- A US military photo ID
- Tennessee handgun carry permit with a photo
- Not acceptable are college student IDs
Voting by Absentee Ballot
Tennessee absentee voting is determined by the county of residence. Some residents may qualify for placement on a permanent absentee voter list. Absentee ballots can only be turned in through mail. Absentee ballots can be used by those who are:
- Sixty (60) years of age or older
- A member of the military or an overseas citizen
- Outside the county where registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
- Hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at a polling place
- A caretaker of a person hospitalized, ill, or disabled
- A full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where registered
- Resident of a nursing home or similar
- A candidate for office in the election
- Observing a religious holiday that prevents voting in person during the early voting period and Election Day
- An Election Day official or a member or employee of the election commission
- Physically disabled and have an inaccessible polling place
- A person or spouse of one who possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and are outside the state or county of registration during early voting and Election Day