VOTER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?

VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE IS BY COUNTY.
IF YOU ARE REGISTERED IN A TENNESSEE COUNTY AND MOVE TO ANOTHER TENNESSEE COUNTY YOU MUST SUBMIT A NEW REGISTRATION APPLICATION TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION IN THE COUNTY THAT YOU HAVE MOVED TO.
A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION IS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH A COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION NO LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR TO AN ELECTION IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION.
IF YOU HAVE A TENNESSEE DRIVER'S LICENSE OR TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY ID YOU MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ONLINE.
TENNESSEE DOES NOT HAVE ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.
A NEW VOTER REGISTRATION CANNOT BE FAXED, EMAILED, OR SUBMITTED VIA THE INTERNET.
VOTERS MAY ALSO COMPLETE AND FILE A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND RETARDATION, AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
OBTAINING A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR COMPLETING ANY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PAPERWORK AT ANY OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES DOES NOT REGISTER AN INDIVIDUAL TO VOTE. A VOTER REGISTRATION MUST BE PROPERLY COMPLETED, SIGNED BY THE APPLICANT, AND SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
TO PRINT A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION CLICK HERE.
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THEIR VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE.

HOW DO I CONFIRM MY REGISTRATION STATUS?

YOU MAY CONFIRM YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS, VOTING LOCATION, AND DISTRICTS ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE.
YOU MAY CALL THE ELECTION OFFICE AT (423)323-6444.

HOW DO I OBTAIN A NEW VOTER REGISTRATION CARD?

A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD IS NOT REQUIRED TO VOTE. THE ONLY IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED TO VOTE IS AN ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID.
VOTERS MAY REQUEST A DUPLICATE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD BY:

EMAILING OR SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST WITH THE VOTER NAME, ADDRESS, AND SIGNATURE.
CALLING THE SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION AT (423)323-6444.

WHAT IDENTIFICATION DO I NEED TO VOTE IN PERSON DURING EARLY VOTING OR ON ELECTION DAY?

A COLLEGE STUDENT ID AND ANY PHOTO ID NOT ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE OF TN ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD IS NOT REQUIRED TO VOTE. ONLY AN ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID.
THE FOLLOWING VOTERS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT FOR A PHOTO ID:

VOTERS WHO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL
VOTERS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF A LICENSED NURSING HOME OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILTY AND WHO VOTE AT THE FACILITY
VOTERS WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED
VOTERS WITH A RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO BEING PHOTOGRAPHED
VOTERS WHO ARE INDIGENT AND UNABLE TO OBTAIN A PHOTO ID WITHOUT PAYING A FEE

FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES A VOTER WHO REGISTERED TO VOTE BY MAIL AND IS VOTING IN THEIR FIRST ELECTION TO PRESENT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

A CURRENT PHOTO ID WITH THE VOTER'S NAME AND PHOTO OR
IF THE PHOTO ID IS EXPIRED, THE VOTER MUST ALSO PRESENT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING; A COPY OF A CURRENT UTILITY BILL, BANK STATEMENT, GOVERNMENT CHECK, PAYCHECK OR OTHER GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS THE VOTER'S NAME AND ADDRESS.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY ADDRESS?

AN ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST IS ONLY VALID WHEN A VOTER MOVES WITHIN THE COUNTY WHERE THEY ARE REGISTERED. IF A VOTER MOVES OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THEY ARE REGISTERED THEY MUST SUBMIT A NEW REGISTRATION APPLICATION IN THAT COUNTY PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE FOR ANY ELECTION.
A VOTER MAY CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS BY FAXING, EMAILING, OR MAILING A REQUEST TO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS AND PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

IF A VOTER HAS FAILED TO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS PRIOR TO APPEARING TO VOTE DURING EARLY VOTING OR ON ELECTION DAY THEY MAY DO SO AT A VOTING LOCATION. HOWEVER, THE PROCEDURE AND PAPERWORK REQUIRED WILL INCREASE THE TIME REQUIRED TO VOTE AND LIKELY RESULT IN THE VOTER NEEDING TO TRAVEL TO A DIFFERENT VOTING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY. IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY UNNECESSARY DELAYS VOTERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO CONFIRM THEIR REGISTRATION STATUS AND IF NECESSARY CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS PRIOR TO APPEARING TO VOTE.

HOW DO I KNOW WHERE TO APPEAR TO VOTE?

THE ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATION IS PRINTED ON EACH VOTER REGISTRATION CARD; HOWEVER, PRECINCTS AND VOTING LOCATIONS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE YOUR CARD WAS ISSUED. TO CONFIRM YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS, VOTING LOCATION, AND DISTRICTS ONLINE CLICK HERE. ON ELECTION DAY A VOTER MUST APPEAR AT THEIR DESIGNATED PRECINCT, HOWEVER DURING EARLY VOTING A VOTER MAY VOTE AT ANY OF THE DESIGNATED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS.
VOTING PRECINCTS ARE CONSOLIDATED FOR CITY ELECTIONS. TO VIEW A LIST OF KINGSPORT CITY ELECTION CONSOLIDATED PRECINCTS CLICK HERE. EACH REGISTERED VOTER HOUSEHOLD IN A PRECINCT THAT HAS BEEN CONSOLIDATED IS MAILED A NOTICE INFORMING THEM OF THE CONSOLIDATION AND THE LOCATION OF THEIR DESIGNATED POLLING LOCATION FOR CITY ELECTIONS.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN I VOTE EARLY?

ALL VOTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CAST THEIR BALLOT DURING EARLY VOTING. EARLY VOTING OFFERS THE CONVENIENCE OF MULTIPLE DAYS AND MULTIPLE LOCATIONS TO CAST YOUR BALLOT. IN ADDITION, EARLY VOTING TYPICALLY REQUIRES LESS TIME.
IN SULLIVAN COUNTY EARLY VOTING IS HELD AT THE SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE IN BLOUNTVILLE, THE SLATER CENTER IN BRISTOL, AND THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM IN KINGSPORT.
TENNESSEE LAW REQUIRES EARLY VOTING TO BE HELD IN AT LEAST ONE LOCATION IN THE COUNTY FROM THE 20TH DAY THROUGH THE 5TH DAY PRIOR TO EACH ELECTION FOR AT LEAST THREE (3) HOURS EVERY DAY EXCEPT SUNDAY AND LEGAL HOLIDAYS.
THE SCHEDULE AND HOURS FOR ALL THREE (3) EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH ELECTION; HOWEVER, THE SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN FOR EARLY VOTING EACH DAY. EARLY VOTING IS REQUIRED FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS. THE EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE FOR EACH ELECTION IS ALWAYS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE ANY VOTER CAN VOTE AT ANY EARLY VOTING LOCATION IN THEIR COUNTY OF RESIDENCE, ON ELECTION DAY THEY CAN ONLY VOTE AT THEIR DESIGNATED VOTING PRECINCT. THE SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE AND CIVIC AUDITORIUM SERVE AS BOTH EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATIONS. IF EITHER OF THESE LOCATIONS ARE NOT YOUR DESIGNATED ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATION YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CAST YOUR BALLOT THERE ON ELECTION DAY.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL?

HOW DO I REGISTER AND VOTE IF I AM IN THE MILITARY OR A U.S. CITIZEN OVERSEAS?

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OR SPOUSE OF A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY OR A U.S. CITIZEN OVERSEAS YOU MAY TEMPORARILY REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU MAINTAIN YOUR LEGAL RESIDENCE AND REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BE MAILED OR EMAILED TO YOU BY COMPLETING THE APPLICATION BY CLICKING HERE.
A TEMPORARY REGISTRATION IS VALID FOR ALL ELECTIONS HELD IN THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH IT IS FILED. A NEW TEMPORARY REGISTRATION MUST BE FILED IN EACH CALENDAR YEAR.
ON DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR ALL TEMPORARY REGISTRATIONS AND REQUESTS TO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL ARE CANCELLED. A VOTER MUST RESUBMIT THE APPLICATION IN ORDER TO BE TEMPORARILY REGISTERED OR TO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL.

WHEN ARE ELECTIONS HELD IN SULLIVAN COUNTY?

A COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF FUTURE ELECTIONS AND THE OFFICES THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT CAN BE VIEWED BY CLICKING HERE.

VOTER INFORMATION FAQ