Vote By Mail

In Tennessee, it often feels like the rules and regulations concerning voting by mail are changing every day (and in some cases, they are!) On September 9th, a federal judge ruled that first-time voters are not required to vote in person if they meet one of the specified criteria to be eligible to vote by mail. This is a huge win for voting rights in Tennessee, but it also means that many voters will still be required to cast their ballots in person this fall. 

Whether you choose to vote in-person or are able to vote absentee by mail, we encourage all of our members to vote as early as possible.  

For a summary of all of the important information that you need to know before casting your ballot, click here. 

Per the Tennessee Secretary of State's website, one of the following criteria must be met in order to qualify for an absentee ballot in Tennessee. 

• You are sixty (60) years of age or older.
• You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.
• You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote (this includes persons who have underlying medical or health conditions which in their determination render them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 or at greater risk should they contract it). For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person more susceptible, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
• You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled (this includes caretakers for persons who have underlying medical or health conditions which in their determination render them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 or at greater risk should they contract it). For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person more susceptible, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
• You or your spouse are a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.
• You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.
• You are a candidate for office in the election.
• You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.
• You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
• You will be unable to vote in-person due to jury duty.
• You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.
• You or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.
• You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.
• You are on the permanent absentee list (see question 4 below).