ABSENTEE VOTING

Do I qualify for a mail-in the ballot?

You request an absentee ballot in Tennessee if one or more of the following apply:

• Out of the county where you are registered to vote during the early voting period and all day on Election Day

• Age 60 or older

• Physically disabled and have an inaccessible polling place

• Hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote. Individuals who wish to vote absentee due to an underlying health condition that makes you especially vulnerable to COVID-19 should select “Hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote” as the reason for their request on the application for a ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office is currently referring voters to this CDC list of underlying conditions. You do not need a physician’s statement to choose this reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

• You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or physically disabled. Individuals who wish to vote absentee because they are a caretaker for someone with an underlying health condition that makes them especially vulnerable to COVID-19 should select “Caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill or physically disabled” as the reason for their request on the application for a ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office is currently referring voters to this CDC list of underlying conditions. You do not need a physician’s statement to choose this reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

• A juror in federal or state court

• A credentialed commercial driver who will be working outside your county or state of registration during early voting hours and on Election Day and you will have no specific out-of-area mailing address during such time

• A voter in a licensed permanent care facility (e.g. a nursing home) outside your county of residence

• A full-time student (or the spouse of a full-time student) at an institution outside of the county where you are registered

• An observer of a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day

• A candidate for office on the ballot

• An election official (e.g. poll worker) or member or employee of the election commission

• A member of the military or an overseas citizen.

• On the permanent absentee list (see the Secretary of State’s website)

How Do I Request My Absentee Ballot?

1. You can request your absentee ballot is by clicking the following link which will take you to a PDF form. Here you can print out the following page and fill it in with your information in the following areas.

2. You may submit this form by mail, fax or email to your county election commission. When emailing, you must scan and attach the completed form to the email. Click here or visit GoVoteTN.com for your election commission address. Your application must be received by October 27, 2020.

3. To check on the status of your absentee ballot visit the following website and enter the required information.

I Got My Mail-In Ballot and Filled It Out, Now What?

1. Great! Now you MUST mail in your ballot to your local commission office in enough time to ensure it will be received before the polls close on November 3rd. Note: You CANNOT drop this ballot off in-person and it must be mailed (can be through USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.)