Voter Registration and Eligibility
By Karis Cooper, Intern
Over the next few weeks, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors will be sharing nonpartisan information about when, where, and how to vote, educating voters about their rights at the polls, and explaining what is on the ballot. These guides might not include all the elections or relevant information, so check in with your local election commission!
Eligibility:
In order to vote in Tennessee, you must register at least 30 days prior to the election.
You can register to vote in Tennessee if you are:
a U.S. citizen,
will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day,
and you live in Tennessee.
In Tennessee, you may lose your right to vote if you are convicted of a felony. However, you may be able to regain your voting rights depending on several factors including the crime and the date of the conviction. Further information on rights restoration can be found on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website. If you have been convicted of a felony that has been expunged, you may select ‘No’ under the question if you have been charged with a felony on the voter registration form. If you are in custody and have not previously been charged with a felony, you may register to vote and vote via an absentee ballot.
How to register:
You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person.
To register to vote online, you must fill out the online voter registration form that can be found on Go Vote TN!
To register to vote by mail, you can download and print a voter registration application, or pick up an application at a few locations, including a public library, county clerk office, or register of deeds office. When you have completed the voter registration form, you must mail it to your county election commission. If you live in Davidson County, the address to the county election commission is:
Davidson County Election Commission
P.O. Box 650
Nashville, TN 37202.
You can also register to vote in person at offices such as the Department of Human Services, Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
In order to register to vote, you will need your Social Security number, your address, and your Driver's license number (if applicable).
Happy Voting!