How to Vote in Tennessee
Tennessee holds its state and federal general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This guide covers the four dates that matter, how to register, how to vote early or by mail, what is on your ballot, and how to reach your county election commission.
The four dates
| What | When | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Voter registration deadline | Last day to register, or to update your address, for this election. | |
| Absentee ballot request deadline | Your county must receive your written request by this day. An excuse is required. | |
| Early voting | through | No excuse needed. Any registered voter may vote early. Hours and locations are set by your county. |
| Election Day | Polls are open statewide. Bring a federal or Tennessee state photo ID. |
What is on the ballot statewide
Every Tennessee voter will see the governor's race and one United States Senate seat. Beyond that, your ballot depends on where you live:
- Governor. A statewide race, on every ballot in Tennessee.
- United States Senate. One seat, statewide.
- United States House. All nine Tennessee seats. Tennessee redrew its congressional district boundaries in May 2026, so your district may have changed even if you have not moved.
- Tennessee Senate. The odd-numbered districts only. The state staggers Senate terms, so roughly half the chamber is elected each cycle and many counties have no state Senate race this year.
- Tennessee House of Representatives. All districts.
- Local races and referendums. Some counties and cities hold elections on the same day. Your county election commission publishes the full ballot.
See which districts you vote in, or look up your exact ballot and polling place with the Secretary of State voter lookup tool.
Three ways to cast a ballot
Voting on Election Day
Polls are open across Tennessee on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polling place hours are set locally and your polling place is assigned by address, so confirm both with the voter lookup tool or your county election commission before Election Day. Your early voting site is not necessarily your Election Day polling place.
Find your county
Registration deadlines and early voting dates are the same in all 95 Tennessee counties. Everything else, including early voting locations, their hours, and your ballot below the statewide races, is run by your county election commission.
- Anderson
- Bedford
- Benton
- Bledsoe
- Blount
- Bradley
- Campbell
- Cannon
- Carroll
- Carter
- Cheatham
- Chester
- Claiborne
- Clay
- Cocke
- Coffee
- Crockett
- Cumberland
- Davidson
- Decatur
- DeKalb
- Dickson
- Dyer
- Fayette
- Fentress
- Franklin
- Gibson
- Giles
- Grainger
- Greene
- Grundy
- Hamblen
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Hardeman
- Hardin
- Hawkins
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Henry
- Hickman
- Houston
- Humphreys
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Johnson
- Knox
- Lake
- Lauderdale
- Lawrence
- Lewis
- Lincoln
- Loudon
- Macon
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Maury
- McMinn
- McNairy
- Meigs
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Moore
- Morgan
- Obion
- Overton
- Perry
- Pickett
- Polk
- Putnam
- Rhea
- Roane
- Robertson
- Rutherford
- Scott
- Sequatchie
- Sevier
- Shelby
- Smith
- Stewart
- Sullivan
- Sumner
- Tipton
- Trousdale
- Unicoi
- Union
- Van Buren
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- Weakley
- White
- Williamson
- Wilson
Common questions
When is the 2026 general election in Tennessee?
The Tennessee state and federal general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open statewide on that day, and you may also vote early in person from October 14 through October 29, 2026.
What is the deadline to register to vote in Tennessee?
Monday, October 5, 2026. Tennessee requires you to be registered no later than 30 days before an election. A registration mailed to your county election commission counts if it is postmarked by that date.
Do I need a photo ID to vote in Tennessee?
Yes. Voters at the polls, whether early or on Election Day, must present a federal or Tennessee state photo ID showing their name and photograph. The ID may be expired. College student IDs, out-of-state IDs and city or county IDs are not accepted. Voters who vote absentee by mail, and residents of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center who vote at the facility, are exempt.
Can anyone vote by mail in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee requires an excuse to vote absentee by mail, and you must fall into one of the categories set by state law, such as being 60 or older, being outside your county for the entire voting period, or being hospitalized, ill or disabled. Your county must receive your written request by Saturday, October 24, 2026.
What is on the ballot in Tennessee in 2026?
Statewide, the ballot includes governor, one United States Senate seat, all nine United States House seats, the odd-numbered Tennessee Senate districts and all Tennessee House districts. Some counties and cities also hold local elections on the same day.
Sources
- Tennessee Secretary of State: elections calendar and key dates
- Tennessee Secretary of State: how to register to vote
- Tennessee Secretary of State: how to early vote in person
- Tennessee Secretary of State: guide to absentee voting
- Tennessee Secretary of State: voter ID requirements
- Tennessee Secretary of State: voter lookup and polling place finder
Dates on this page were verified against the Tennessee Secretary of State on August 8, 2026. Check the state election calendar.