How to register to vote in Tennessee

Who can register

To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen.
• 18 years old on or before the date of the next election.
• A Tennessee resident.

Source: T.C.A. § 2-2-109.

Five ways to register

• Online at ovr.govote.tn.gov.
• By mail, using a paper form from the Tennessee Secretary of State.
• In person at your county election commission, county clerk, public library, or register of deeds.
• At a state agency — for example, when you visit the Department of Health, Human Services, the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Safety (driver services), or the Department of Veterans Affairs. They are required to offer voter registration.
• Already registered? You stay registered permanently in Tennessee unless the state removes you from the rolls for a specific reason (for example, moving out of state or a felony conviction).

The deadline

You must register at least 30 days before Election Day. That deadline is the same for every method — online, mail, or in person.

Restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction

Tennessee's rules on restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction are detailed and depend on your specific case. We are not going to summarize them here. A well-meaning simplification could tell an eligible person they cannot vote.

Read the official guidance directly from the state:

Restoration of voting rights — Tennessee Secretary of State.