Voting by Mail in Tennessee

Voting by mail is a great way to #votesafe during the pandemic.

Find the post office designated for ballot drop-off in your county. Track your ballot.

Tennessee voters can now stamp and drop off their mail-in ballots at a designated USPS post office in each county until 3 pm on Election Day. Election commission officials will collect ballots at those locations after 3 pm on Nov. 3. We recommend using the drop-off post offices rather than using regular mail for your ballot at this point, because your ballot is NOT guaranteed to arrive in time if you mail it from any other location. The official ballot drop-off locations for your county can be found here.

First you have to request your ballot. You can do that here. Once you complete and sign the form, send it to your local election commission by mail, email or fax. Find your commission’s contact info at this link. If your request is accepted, you’ll get your ballot in the mail.

You can vote absentee in Tennessee if you fall into certain categories, including if you are:

• Someone with an underlying health condition making you especially vulnerable to COVID-19 – or you’re a caretaker of such a person (see more info on this below);
• Out of town during early voting and on Election Day;
• Over 60 years old;
• Hospitalized, ill, or have a disability – or you’re a caretaker of such a person;
• A juror on a federal or state court;
• A commercial driver (with credentials) who will be working outside of the county or state of registration;
• A voter in a licensed permanent care facility (e.g. a nursing home) outside your county;
• Observing a religious holiday;
• An election official (poll worker, judge, etc.); or
• A member of the military.

If you’re wondering whether you - or someone you live with - have a qualifying underlying condition, it is up to you to make that decision. The state is trusting you to make the best call for your health. They’re not asking for a doctor’s note and the state has represented in court that they won’t prosecute you for checking that box. For guidance, the state is referring folks to the CDC’s list of underlying conditions. But again, if you decide you have a qualifying condition, you qualify to vote absentee.

The short answer: yes… if you get your ballot in on time! In the August primary, the most common reason for ballot rejections was late arrivals. This means that if you send in your ballot on time and fill it out correctly, it will be counted. But sooner is better than later! The good news: you can request your absentee ballot today. See if you’re eligible and then send in your request ASAP.

Yes. Check this link. Once you have submitted the form, you should see when your request was processed, and once you have sent your ballot in, you should see when it was received.