Voting FAQ

What do I need to register to vote?

You need a photo ID. Acceptable forms include:

TN Drivers license
US Passport
Photo ID issued by the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee State government
US Military Photo ID
Tennessee handgun permit with your photo
COLLEGE STUDENT ID’S ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail and your ID has expired, you will also need to show proof of residence to vote. Acceptable forms include:

copy of a current utility bill
bank statement
government check or paycheck
other government document that shows your name and address

Do I need a driver's license to vote?

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day need to bring some sort of photo identification to the polls (see above). A driver's license or photo ID issued by the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security or state/federal government are accepted, even if they are expired.

Who can register to vote?

In order to be eligible for voting 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, but if convicted, your eligibility to register and vote depends upon the crime you commit/were convicted of and the date of your conviction (if your conviction was cleared, you are not considered to have a felony conviction and are free to vote)

Who can’t register to vote?

Non-citizens, some people recently convicted of a felony crime or are currently serving time for other types of crimes, some people who are mentally incapacitated.

Where do you need to go in order to cast your vote?

Tennessee offers online voter registration. You can register by mail by printing a voter registration form, filling it out and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person at your local election office if you prefer that too.

Can you register to vote if you are mentally impaired?

Federal laws protect voting rights with persons with disabilities, so yes you can vote. Voters with disabilities or have difficulty reading or writing english have the right to receive in-person help at the polls from a person of their choice however, it cannot be the voter’s employer. Election officials can also make reasonable accommodations as needed in case help is needed. The only way a disabled person is restricted from voting at the polls is if they are declared mentally incompetent by a court, establishing that the person has the inability to make or carry out important decisions regarding his or her own affairs.

What type of elections can I vote in?

If you are eligible to vote in the state of Tennessee, you can vote in primary, general and local elections!

Is there an age limit that can invalidate your eligibility to vote?

No! Once you turn 18, you can vote how many times you like without an age limit.

How does early voting work in Tennessee?

To vote early, a person must appear in person at either the county election commission office or at a satellite voting location opened by the county election commission. The early voting period typically begins twenty (20) days before an election and ends five (5) days before an election.

What does it mean to cast an absentee ballot?

An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable to attend their local official polling station. Usually, they must vote through a different location, mail or online voting.

I'm going to college out-of-state. How does this affect my ability to vote?

Generally, it doesn't! You register to vote with your home address (generally it's where you live when dorms are closed), and have to vote in-person in the county of your home address. If you are unable to make it back to your home county in time for an election, you can vote by mail AKA absentee. BUT, if you're voting for your first time (ex. register as a high school senior, then go to college out of state), you have to vote in person. That's right, regardless of if you register to vote by mail, if it's your first time voting, it has to be in person. If you have other questions, this website may help.

What are the best ways to research candidates in your area?

You can enter your address into sample ballot generators (like this one from Ballotpedia) so that you can learn when the next election is and who/what you'll have on your ballot. You can also look at many non-partisan online resources that can provide you with a comprehensive outlook on candidates backgrounds and political party affiliations. Some candidates have personal websites where you can also use to get a sense of each candidates values, background and experience. Lastly, social media is a great way to keep track of candidate campaigns and election progress.

How can redistricting or gerrymandering change voter turnout?

Redistricting is the process of redrawing congressional and state district boundaries when a state has more representatives than other districts, and the process generally occurs every 10 years, following the US Census. Gerrymandering is essentially redistricting intentionally done poorly, where a party manipulates district boundaries to gain more votes in one area and thus favor a specific party. The Brennan Center for Justice has a useful explanation of Gerrymandering here. Tennessee recently had district lines redrawn following the 2020 Census, and to find your new district, see this link. For more information on Tennessee's redistricting process, as well as the potential gerrymandering in the recent redistricting, click here.