En español | Only certain Tennessee voters are eligible to vote absentee, but any voter can participate in early in-person voting.
The 2022 midterms decided races for governor and seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and state Legislature. The next statewide elections are in 2024, with elections in some cities, including Nashville and Memphis, in 2023.
Redistricting in early 2022 has altered certain boundaries of U.S. congressional and state legislative districts.
Register online, by mail or in person:
Check whether you’re registered to vote through the state’s voter information portal or through the GoVoteTN app.
No. Tennessee is an open primary state, and voters don’t choose a party when they register to vote. Voters can choose which party’s primary they vote in, but they can only choose one.
Only some voters can request an absentee by-mail ballot, including anyone 60 or older, people who will be out of town throughout the early voting period and on Election Day, people who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, and anyone who is hospitalized or has a physical disability that prevents them from going to a polling place. A full list of valid reasons is on the secretary of state’s website.
Apply for an absentee ballot online, by mail or by fax:
Applications cannot be submitted in person. The deadline to apply for an absentee by-mail ballot will be listed on the secretary of state’s website closer to an election.
Only return completed ballots with proper postage by mail. Ballots must be received by your county election commission before polls close at 7 p.m. CT, 8 p.m. ET on Election Day.
Use the state’s voter services portal to track the status of your absentee ballot.
Any registered voter may vote early and in person at their county election commission office or a satellite location. Early voting usually begins 20 days before an election.
Polling hours vary by county, but all locations close at 7 p.m. CT, 8 p.m. ET. You will be able to cast a ballot after the polls close as long as you were already in line. Use the state’s voter services portal to find your polling place.
You’ll need to show a federal or state-issued photo ID, such as a U.S. passport, Tennessee driver’s license or handgun carry permit. A full list of acceptable documents is on the secretary of state’s website.
If you forget your ID at home, you may cast a provisional ballot when voting in person. You will then have until two business days after the election to show a valid photo ID to your county election commission’s office. While you’re there, you also must sign an affidavit.
Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Nov. 29, 2022, with more information about voting in Tennessee. The guide was first published on July 20, 2020.
This story is provided by AARP Tennessee. Visit the AARP Tennessee page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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