Home

Voter Registration Rules

Division of Elections
RESIDENCY FOR PURPOSE OF VOTER REGISTRATION
Principles For Determination of Residence
To determine whether a person is a resident of Tennessee, the registrar must consider the following factors:
1. The residence of a person is the place where the person’s habitation is fixed and is where, during periods of absence, the person definitely intends to return.
2. A person can have only one residence.
3. A change of residence is made not only by relocation, but also by intent to remain in the new location permanently, and by demonstrating actions consistent with that intention.
4. The following factors may be considered:
  • The person’s possession, acquisition or surrender of inhabitable property;
  • Location of the person’s occupation;
  • Place of licensing or registration of the person’s personal property;
  • Place of payment of taxes which are governed by residence;
  • Purpose for a person’s presence in a particular place; and
  • Place of the person’s licensing for activities such as driving.

5. The place where a married person’s spouse and family live is presumed to be that person’s residence, unless that person takes up or continues abode with the intention of remaining in a place other than where the spouse and family reside.
6. No person gains or loses residency solely by presence in or absence from the state while employed in the service of the United States or this state, or while a student at an institution of higher learning, or while kept in an institution at public expense.

Division of Elections
ID REQUIRED FOR FIRST-TIME VOTER'S WHO REGISTERED TO VOTE BY-MAIL
Before voting, individuals who registered to vote by-mail and are voting for the first time since that registration must present one (1) of the acceptable forms listed below.
  • A current VOTER REGISTRATION CARD
  • A current TENNESSEE DRIVER’S LICENSE
  • A PHOTO ID which includes the voter’s name and signature

If the voter has NONE of the above items, he/she will still be able to vote if they have any one item from Column A plus any one item from Column B.
 

Column A PLUS Column B
  • Current & valid photo I.D. of any kind, either government issued or private, not containing a voter’s signature
  • Current utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Government check
  • Paycheck
  • ANY OTHER government document(s) that show the voter’s NAME and ADDRESS.
 
  • Show ANY document with the voter’s NAME and SIGNATURE (Examples: Social security card, credit card with a signature, any other document which has the voter’s name and signature.)

OR

  • SIGN an official AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY form provided by the polling place officials (does not require a notary).

 
Division of Elections
VOTER REGISTRATION FAQs
Who May Register to Vote?
Any citizen of the United States who is or will be eighteen (18) years of age or older before the date of the next election and who is a resident of Tennessee may register to vote unless disqualified under the law. T.C.A 2-2-102 and 2-2-104.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How and Where May Qualified Voters Register?
Qualified voters register to vote by obtaining and completing a voter registration form and filing the form with the local county election commission. Persons may register in Tennessee: in person and by mail. T.C.A. 2-2-108, 2-2-110, 2-2-115, 2-2-116, 2-2-201, and 2-2-202.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How Do You Register In Person?
Registration forms may be completed at the local county election commission office, Department of Safety (motor vehicles division), Department of Health (WIC program), Department of Human Services, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, public libraries, county clerk’s offices, and register of deeds offices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How Do You Register By Mail?
Voter registration-by-mail forms may be obtained from the county election commission office, the post office, and a variety of other public offices across the state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When May A Qualified Voter Register?
In order to participate in an election, a qualified voter must be properly registered no later than thirty (30) days before the election. The election commission office will process any by-mail voter registration form that has been postmarked at least thirty (30) days before the election. T.C.A 2-2-109.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
»