One of the most important signals that a person has reached adulthood is that the person now has the right to vote. It’s a great privilege to have a say in your country’s direction and be able to elect individuals who best represent your vision for the future is an incredible responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
Requirements to vote
To vote in Tennessee you must be a citizen of the U.S., a Tennessee resident, and you must be registered at least 29 days prior to the election. Tennessee law is also clear that in order to vote you must not have been convicted of an“infamous crime,” meaning a felony.
So where do you register?
There are several ways in which a person may register to vote in the state of Tennessee. You may register in person at your local county election commission office, by mail, or at one of the motor voter registration locations (County Clerk offices, Health Department offices, Register of Deeds office or Libraries). Be careful though, it is illegal to be registered in more than one county at a time.
Where do you vote?
Your local county election commission determines your polling place. Your voter registration identification will list the address of where you are supposed to show up and cast your ballot.
What about absentee voting?
Tennessee law permits absentee voting if you are away from your polling location. To vote by mail, the voter must be outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on election day. College students who are attending school out-of-state can simply request an absentee ballot from their local election commission at least seven days before the vote. To be counted, the county election commission must receive the ballot by mail no later than the close of polls on election day.