Absentee Voting

ATTENTION ABSENTEE BALLOT RECIPIENTS:  If you requested and received a ballot in the mail and choose to vote in-person instead, Tennessee Election Statue does NOT allow you to vote on the machine.  You are REQUIRED to vote by a provisional ballot.  This process requires you to fill out a new voter registration form completely, fill out the affidavit on the ballot envelope completely, sign the Provisional Ballot Signature List, and vote on a provisional ballot.  You will place your ballot in a provisional ballot envelope and deposit it in the Ballot Box at the precinct.  ALL PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WILL NOT BE COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY.  HOWEVER, THEY WILL BE COUNTED WITHIN 4 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION.  Provisional ballots that are eligible to be cast, will be counted for those who have requested an absentee ballot but choose to vote in-person instead.  Your Provisional ballot that is eligible to be cast will be tabulated by the Provisional Counting Board and will be included in the Official Election Results for Blount County.  This is persuant to tca 2-6-201and 2-7-112(a)(3)(A).

Absentee Requests for the 8/4/22 Election maybe submitted between May 6th and July 28th.

1. Am I eligible to vote absentee by-mail?

You can vote absentee by-mail if you fall under one of the following categories:

  • You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.
  • You or your spouse are a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.
  • You are on the permanent absentee list (see question 4 below).
  • You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.
  • You will be unable to vote in-person due to jury duty.
  • You are sixty (60) years of age or older.
  • You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.
  • You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote.  Voters who have an illness, physical disability or other underlying health condition that makes them especially vulnerable to COVID-19, and who, because of that condition, are unable to appear in the polling place on Election Day and instead wish to vote by-mail should check this box.  For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person especially vulnerable see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
  • You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled.  Voters who are the caretaker of someone with an illness, physical disability or other underlying health condition that makes a person you care for especially vulnerable to COVID-19, and who wish to vote by-mail should check this box.  For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person especially vulnerable see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html.  A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
  • You are a candidate for office in the election.
  • You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
  • You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.
  • You or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.
  • You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.

2. How can I request an absentee by-mail ballot?

You must submit a written request containing the information below to your local county election commission office by the seventh day before Election Day. 

You can submit your written request for an absentee ballot by mail, fax, or e-mail. If e-mailing your request, be sure the attached document contains the information below and your scanned signature. 

  1. Name of the registered voter
  2. Address of the voter's residence
  3. Voter's social security number
  4. Voter's date of birth
  5. Address to mail the ballot
  6. The election in which the voter wishes to participate. If the election involves a primary, the political party in which the voter wishes to participate.
  7. Reason the voter wishes to vote absentee. If applicable, a copy of the CDL containing the CDL number or the TWIC card must be included in the voter’s request.
  8. Voter's signature

A request that contains this information will be processed and a ballot will be mailed to the voter.

NOTICE: A person who is not an employee of an election commission commits a Class E felony if such person gives an application for an absentee ballot to any person or commits a Class A misdemeanor if such person gives an unsolicited request for application for absentee ballot to any person. T.C.A. § 2-6-202(c)(3) and (4).

3. What if I do not provide all of the information required on the absentee by-mail ballot application?

The county election commission will return the application to you so you can make corrections and resubmit your application.

4. Do I qualify for the permanent absentee list?

You will receive an application for ballot for each election if your licensed physician signs a statement  stating that, in their judgment, you are medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed not less than seven (7) days before the election and signed under the penalty of perjury.

5. When can I request my ballot?

You may request an absentee by-mail ballot no earlier than ninety (90) days before the election and no later than seven (7) days before the election. To be processed for the next election, the application must be received by the election commission no later than seven (7) days before the election.

Absentee ballot request for the August 4th, 2022 election may be submitted between May 6 - July 28. Requests must be received no later than 11:59pm on July 28th.

6. What if I do not receive or ruin my ballot and can no longer use it?

You should notify your county election commission.

7.What is the deadline to return my ballot so it can be counted?

You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

8. Can I hand deliver my ballot to the election office?

No. You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.).

 9. Is additional information required to vote absentee by-mail if I am a first-time voter who registered to vote by mail?

You may still need to provide identification when you send back your ballot.  Your county sill send instructions with your ballot on what to include.  Under the U.S. District Court Order of September 9, you do not have to appear in-person to vote in the first election after you registrar by mail.