Voting is our opportunity to have a say in the future of our local, regional, state and national communities. Registering to vote is the first step in actively participating in our democracy.
You must be registered to vote in the Tennessee county where you live before you can vote.
To become registered to vote in Tennessee, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.
Prospective voters can register online at https://ovr.govote.tn.gov , by mailing a voter registration application to your county election commission, or in person at a variety of locations including the county clerk’s office, public libraries, numerous state agencies, and the county election commission office in the county where a you live (list of all county election commission offices can be found here.)
Registration deadlines to be eligible to vote in an election are:
• For online or in-person registration, deadline is 30 days before Election Day.
• Registration applications submitted by mail must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day.
After this deadline means the applicant’s registration will not valid until the next election passed the 30-day window.
Additional rules related to registration are that Tennessee voters who register to vote by mail or online must appear in-person to vote the first time they vote (they cannot vote absentee). Voters who register in-person, however, do not have to vote in person the first time they vote.
For anyone who has been convicted of a felony, special rules apply. Eligibility to register and vote depends upon the crime convicted of and the date of conviction. If your conviction made you ineligible, you may regain your eligibility if your conviction has been expunged or if you have had your voting rights restored, unless you were convicted of a crime that rendered you permanently ineligible to vote. Learn more on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.
Be safe, be well, and vote. Every vote makes a difference!
