Absentee Voting In Tennessee
I.
By Mail Absentee
Voting
A.
Reasons – A
registered voter in any of the following circumstances may vote absentee by
mail: T.C.A. § 2-6-201
1.
Persons
Outside of County – The
voter who will be outside the county where the voter is registered during the
early voting period and on election day during all the hours the polls are open
for any reason other than the fact that the voter will be imprisoned.
2.
Students
and Spouses Outside of County
- The voter or the voter’s spouse who is enrolled as a full-time student in an
accredited college, university or similar accredited institution of learning in
this state which is outside the county where the voter is registered.
3.
Voters
on the
Permanent Absentee Voting Register - A
voter whose licensed physician has filed not less than five (5) days before the
election a statement with the county election commission stating, under the
penalty of perjury, that in the physician's professional medical judgment, the
patient (voter) is medically unable to appear at the polling place to vote and
is medically unable to go to the commission office for the purpose of early
voting.
4.
Residents
of Certain Institutions Outside of County –
Voters who are full-time residents of a licensed nursing home, home for the aged
or similar licensed institution providing relatively permanent domiciliary care,
other than a penal institution, outside the voter's county of residence.
5.
Jurors
–
A voter who expects to be unable to appear during the early voting period or at
the polling place on election day because the person is serving as a juror for a
federal or state court;
6.
Persons
Over 65 - Persons Hospitalized, Ill or Disabled
a)
A voter who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older;
b)
A disabled voter whose polling place is inaccessible;
c)
A voter who is hospitalized, ill or physically disabled, and because of
such condition, cannot appear at the person's polling place on election day; or
d)
The voter who is a caretaker of a hospitalized, ill or disabled person.
7.
Candidates
for Office -
The voter who is a candidate for office in the election for which the voter
seeks to cast an absentee ballot;
8.
Election
Officials - The
voter who serves an election official or a member or employee of the election
commission on election day.
9.
Observance
of a Religious Holiday
- The voter who cannot appear during the early voting period or at the polling
place because of observance of a religious holiday.
B. Manner
– T.C.A. § 2-6-202
1.
Requests for an Application for Ballot
a)
Not more than ninety (90) and not later than seven (7) days before the
election, a voter may request an absentee ballot.
b)
A request for an application may be mailed, faxed or hand delivered to
the election commission office.
c)
A request that contains the following information serves as an
application for ballot:
(1) The name of
the registered voter;
(2) The address of
the voter's residence;
(3) The voter's
social security number;
(4)
The address to mail the ballot outside the county (This applies only when
the reason for voting by mail involves that the voter will be outside of the
county during early voting and on election day);
(5)
The election the voter wishes to participate in;
(6)
The reason the voter wishes to vote absentee; and
(7)
Voter’s signature
NOTE:
The law prohibits individuals, candidates or political party representatives
from distributing unsolicited forms
that may serve as applications for ballot.