Voting Access Scorecard - Tennessee
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Tennessee. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Tennessee ranks 37. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 13.5 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote | N |
|---|---|
| State offers Election Day registration Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote | N |
| State has automatic registration Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Locations are determined by local county officials. Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/early-voting-person | V |
|---|---|
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/early-voting-person | Y |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/early-voting-person | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/early-voting-person | N |
|---|---|
| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/node/4933 | N |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Must be received by the close of polls on Election Day. Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Only a voter who is, because of sickness, hospitalization or physical disability can sign up to vote by permanent absentee. Tennessee Code 2-6-201(3)(A): http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-2/chapter-6/part-2/2-6-201 | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/how-do-i-request-absentee-ballot | N |
|---|---|
| State allows voters to register online Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote | N |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Tennessee Secretary of State: https://tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/elections/elections-faqs | N |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/what-id-required-when-voting | N |
|---|---|
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/what-id-required-when-voting; Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting#2 | N |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) If you donât bring a photo ID, you will vote a provisional ballot. You will then have two (2) business days after Election Day to return to the election commission office to show a valid photo ID. However there is an exception if you are too poor to obtain a birth certificate and therefore can't get photo ID; in that case you can vote with an affidavit that you are indigent. Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/what-id-required-when-voting | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form Tennessee Code 2-2-106(c)(2): http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-2/chapter-2/part-1/2-2-106 ("If, as a result of the address verification program, the county election commission determines that a voter may have changed the voter's address of residence, the administrator of elections shall mail a forwardable confirmation notice to the voter at the address of registration with a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return form on which the voter may verify or correct the new address information.") | Y |
|---|---|
| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | N |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | N |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Tennessee Secretary of State: https://twitter.com/SecTreHargett/status/880830633894973440 | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Permanent disenfranchisement for some types of crimes. Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/if-i-have-felony-conviction-can-i-vote | N |
|---|---|
| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/if-i-have-felony-conviction-can-i-vote | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/if-i-have-felony-conviction-can-i-vote | N |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Tenn. Code 2-20-101 to 2-20-105: http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-2/chapter-20/ | Y |
|---|---|
| State requires poll worker training Tenn. Code § 2-4-108: http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-2/chapter-4/2-4-108/ | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification Tenn. Code 2-20-101: http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-2/chapter-20/2-20-101/ | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Tennessee Secretary of State: http://sos.tn.gov/elections/voter-information | Y |
See an error? Submit a correction here.