IMPORTANT NOTICE: All General Election information presented here, including dates and deadlines, is accurate as of November 2020. The US General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 has now passed. You can still find information on important dates here, including when ballots must be received by your state.

How to register to vote in Tennessee

The information on this page applies to the November 3, 2020 General Election. Voting for that election has ended in all states.

Who can vote

To register in Tennessee you must:
  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Tennessee
  • be at least 18 years old on or before the next election
  • not have been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, have had your voting rights restored
  • not be adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction (or have been restored to legal capacity)
  • *find more information on voting rights restoration here

Online voter registration

  • Tennessee offers online voter registration.
  • You should know: You must have a Tennessee driver's license or Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security ID in order to submit this application online. If you do not have a Tennessee ID, you can still register by mail to vote.

By-mail voter registration

Use the Tennessee voter registration form

You can also register to vote using the Tennessee voter registration form. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and fill it out completely. Send the completed form to your local election official

Use the National Voter Registration Form

  1. Print and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
  2. Box 6 - ID Number: Your full Social Security number is required. Social Security number, if any, is required for purposes of identification and to avoid duplicate registration (TCA 2.2.116).
  3. Box 7 - Choice of Party: Tennessee does NOT require that you register with a party to participate in partisan primary elections.
  4. Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Optional.
  5. Review the "Who can vote?" section above and check that you're eligible.
  6. Sign the form.
  7. Send the completed form to your local election official
  8. If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, Federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes: A current and valid photo identification or A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address. More information here.

Election Day registration

Tennessee does not offer registration on Election Day.

In-person voter registration

Due to COVID-19, in-person services may have limited availability. Contact your local election office to confirm. See CDC guidance on safe in-person registration and voting.

Get step-by-step help

If you’d like more help planning how to register, TurboVote can walk you through the process! They can also help you start the absentee/mail-in ballot request process, send you election reminders, and more.

Military and overseas voters

Active-duty military, their families, and overseas citizens can register to vote and request their absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is done by mail, but your state may offer other options to request and return ballots. Please contact your election official for more information about delivery and return methods, including email, fax, and state online portals. To follow the FPCA process:
  1. Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), or download a copy. Your election official may have questions, so please provide an email address or phone number where they can reach you.
  2. Send the application to your election official.
  3. It is never too early to submit an FPCA! Please do so as soon as possible.
  4. Please fill out and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it.
  5. States begin mailing absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day. If you haven't received your ballot by 30 days before Election Day, contact your local election office.
If after submitting your FPCA, your ballot does not arrive, contact your election official first. Then:
  • You can still vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Print, sign, and mail your FWAB to your local election office.
  • If you mail a FWAB and then receive your regular absentee ballot, you should complete and mail your absentee ballot also. Election officials will ensure that only one ballot is counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program – FVAP.gov offers additional information on military and overseas voting in Tennessee. You can also call 1-800-438-VOTE or email vote@fvap.gov

Check your voter registration status

You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Tennessee's voter registration lookup tool.

Election contact information for Tennessee

Address:
Secretary of State
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 7th Floor, Snodgrass Tower
Nashville, TN 37243

Phone Number:
(615) 741-7956

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