Sources

Source hierarchy

1. 1

   Official county sample ballot

   The single authoritative list of who and what appears on your ballot. Published by the county election commission for the specific election.

2. 2

   Tennessee Secretary of State certified candidate list

   The statewide certified list published after the qualifying deadline. Reserved for one thing only: confirming who lawfully qualified for a given office.

3. 3

   County election calendar

   The official schedule of registration deadlines, early voting windows, and election day for each county.

4. 4

   Enacted Tennessee legislation

   The Tennessee Code and public chapters as adopted. Not bills, not proposals — the law as it stands.

5. 5

   Tennessee Comptroller official district map

   The official geographic boundaries used by the state. The authority we cite when a district line is in question.

6. 6

   Tennessee Secretary of State voter resource

   Official state guidance for voters: registration portal, how-to guides, deadlines. Not a candidate list. Never used to verify ballot status.

7. 7

   Official government source

   Primary material published by a government body itself — a state constitution, a municipal charter, an official agency page. Cited as the authority on what an office legally is and does.

8. 8

   Authoritative nonpartisan research

   University- and government-affiliated reference bodies (e.g. UT County Technical Assistance Service). Cited when they are the authoritative reference on a subject, not as a secondary cross-check.

9. 9

   Candidate campaign website

   Used only for the candidate's own biography and stated positions. Never used to determine ballot status.

10. 10

    Reputable news reporting

    Used for context — coverage of a vote, a court ruling, or a policy debate. Never as the sole source for ballot facts.

11. 11

    Third-party election databases

    Secondary cross-check only. Useful for double-checking an official source. Never a substitute for one.

12. 12

    Advocacy organizations

    Cited only when the organization is clearly identified and attributed. Never presented as a neutral measurement.

Never final without verification

Sources we currently cite