Tennessee

Open your Tennessee ballot

Enter your ZIP code in the guide to add your local races. Your picks stay on your device.

Local guides in Tennessee

• Columbia
• Mount Pleasant
• Nashville

Key dates

• Last day to register online: Mon, Oct 5Registration closed Monday, October 5, 2026, 30 days before Election Day. That was the deadline online, by mail and in person.
• Last day to register by mail: Mon, Oct 5Mailed forms had to be postmarked by October 5, 2026. If you registered by mail or online and have never voted in your county, you must vote in person the first time, with a few exceptions.
• Last day to register in person: Mon, Oct 5In-person registration at your county election commission also closed October 5, 2026. Tennessee has no same-day or Election Day registration.
• Early voting: Wed, Oct 14 to Thu, Oct 29
• Last day to ask for a mail ballot: Sat, Oct 24Requests had to reach your county election commission by Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10 days before the election. That deadline has passed.
• Mail ballot deadline: Tue, Nov 37:00 PM CT (8:00 PM ET), when the polls close
  • Return it by mail only (USPS, FedEx, UPS or another carrier). Your county election commission must get it by the time polls close on Election Day: 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern. A postmark doesn't count.
  • You can't hand it in at the office or give it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day.
  • Military and overseas voters: separate rules, and they can get the ballot by email; see the Secretary of State's FAQ for military and overseas voters.
• Election Day: Tue, Nov 3Polls close at 7:00 PM Central (8:00 PM Eastern). All Tennessee polls close at 7 PM Central time, which is 8 PM Eastern (Knoxville, Chattanooga and the rest of East Tennessee). If you're in line when the polls close, you'll be allowed to vote. Opening times vary by county: check yours in the GoVoteTN app.

How voting works in Tennessee

Most Tennesseans vote in person, either during early voting (Oct 14 to 29 this year) or at their polling place on Election Day. A ballot by mail is only for people with a reason the state lists, like being 60 or older, and it has to go back by mail.

Where to vote

• Find your Election Day polling place
• Track your mail ballot
• Check your registration

What to bring

Photo ID required in person.

• Tennessee driver license with your photo (even if expired)
• United States passport (even if expired)
• Photo ID from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (even if expired)
• Any other photo ID from the federal or Tennessee state government (even if expired)
• United States military photo ID (even if expired)
• Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo (even if expired)
• Not accepted: college student IDs, out-of-state driver licenses or IDs, city or county IDs like library cards, and Tennessee IDs issued to non-U.S. citizens
• First-time voters who registered by mail or online and bring an expired ID must also bring a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document with their name and address
• Need an ID? A Tennessee photo ID for voting is free at a driver services center if you don't already have one; a license without a photo can be reissued with one for free

No ID? If you don't bring a photo ID, you'll vote a provisional ballot. You then have two business days after Election Day to go to your county election commission office, show a valid photo ID and sign an affidavit (SOS FAQ). Some voters don't need a photo ID at all: those voting by mail, nursing home or assisted living residents voting at the facility, hospitalized voters, voters with a religious objection to being photographed, and voters who are indigent and can't get an ID without paying a fee (they sign an oath at the polls).