While Tennessee has absentee voting/vote by mail, there are limits to who can vote absentee/VBM. Additionally, Tennessee is the only state in the nation to expressly prohibit dropping off an absentee ballot in person, making absentee votes more susceptible to not being counted due to postal delays. Any plan to vote should strongly consider voting early in person in October, or otherwise being exceptionally proactive and timely when using an absentee ballot.
To avoid possible postal delays impacting your vote, we recommend mailing your completed ballot back by Tuesday, October 13th.
If you are concerned about your absentee ballot returning on time through the mail, visit our other page to learn how to drop your ballot off in person.
Registering In Person: October 5, 2020
Registering By Mail: Postmarked October 5, 2020
Registering Online: October 5, 2020
Requesting In Person: Received October 27, 2020
Requesting By Mail: Received October 27, 2020
Requesting Online: N/A (No online form, though requests can be sent by email)
Ballots must be received by your county election commission by 8pm local time November 3, 2020 (before polls close).
We strongly recommend mailing your ballot much earlier (by October 13th).
Yes. You can vote absentee by-mail if you fall under one of the following categories:
You are sixty (60) years of age 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 (this includes persons who have underlying medical or health conditions which in their determination render them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 or at greater risk should they contract it). For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person more susceptible, see this list. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled (this includes caretakers for persons who have underlying medical or health conditions which in their determination render them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 or at greater risk should they contract it). For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person more susceptible, see this list. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
You or your spouse are 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 possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) 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. You will receive an application for ballot for each election if your licensed physician signs a statement stating that, in their judgment, you are medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed not less than seven (7) days before the election and signed under the penalty of perjury.
No.
Unfortunately, Tennessee specifically prohibits returning absentee/VBM ballots in person; they must be mailed.
Not specified. Carrier envelopes may not be collected and stored at another location for subsequent delivery to the early voting clerk. A person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses an official ballot or official carrier envelope with intent to defraud the voter or the election authority.
October 14th to October 29, 2020. County Election Commission Offices must be open a minimum of three consecutive hours on weekdays and Saturdays between 8 AM - 6 PM during the early voting period.
On at least three days, offices must be open between 4:30 - 7 PM, and on at least one Saturday from 8 AM - 4 PM
At all County Election Commission Offices.
Strict Photo ID. If ID is not presented, the voter votes on a provisional ballot and must return within two days to show an ID or sign an affidavit attesting to indigence or a religious objection.
Voters must show a government-issued photo ID when voting in person at the polls either early or on Election Day. If you’re casting an absentee ballot by mail, which requires an excuse in Tennessee, you do NOT have to provide a copy of your photo ID. If this is your first time voting since registering in Tennessee, you must vote in person unless you qualify and are on the permanent absentee voting list.
Current or expired Tennessee driver license or state ID with a photo;
Current or expired U.S. passport;
Current or expired free photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security;
Current or expired photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government;
Current or expired employee ID cards issued by the federal or Tennessee state government, including retired state government employee photo ID cards and IDs issued by public universities to faculty and employees;
Current or expired U.S. military photo ID; or
Current or expired Tennessee gun permit card with a photo.
Student IDs, even those from public colleges, are NOT acceptable forms of ID. Voters who are hospitalized or are indigent and attest that they are unable to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee are exempt. Otherwise, if you do not have a qualifying photo ID, you will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. But you will then have to provide a qualifying photo ID to election officials within two business days for your vote to be counted.
No.
At least 15 days prior to the election, each county determines the opening time for polling places in that county.
Polling places in the eastern time zone close at 8 p.m., while polling places in the central time zone close at 7 p.m.
If you are in line when polls close, you are legally entitled to vote. Don't leave!
Strict Photo ID. If ID is not presented, the voter votes on a provisional ballot and must return within two days to show an ID or sign an affidavit attesting to indigence or a religious objection.
Voters must show a government-issued photo ID when voting in person at the polls either early or on Election Day. If you’re casting an absentee ballot by mail, which requires an excuse in Tennessee, you do NOT have to provide a copy of your photo ID. If this is your first time voting since registering in Tennessee, you must vote in person unless you qualify and are on the permanent absentee voting list.
Current or expired Tennessee driver license or state ID with a photo;
Current or expired U.S. passport;
Current or expired free photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security;
Current or expired photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government;
Current or expired employee ID cards issued by the federal or Tennessee state government, including retired state government employee photo ID cards and IDs issued by public universities to faculty and employees;
Current or expired U.S. military photo ID; or
Current or expired Tennessee gun permit card with a photo.
Student IDs, even those from public colleges, are NOT acceptable forms of ID. Voters who are hospitalized or are indigent and attest that they are unable to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee are exempt. Otherwise, if you do not have a qualifying photo ID, you will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. But you will then have to provide a qualifying photo ID to election officials within two business days for your vote to be counted.