Bud Knowles, Administrator
 

One of the goals of the Hamilton County Election Commission is to encourage every eligible citizen to register to vote.
 

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about the voter registration procedures. 

By Phone: (423)  493-5100
By Fax:  (423)  493-5101
By Email:  Vote@hamiltontn.gov

Click on a subject to proceed:

VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM (PDF FORM)

VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

PROCESSING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS

REGISTERING BY MAIL BEFORE FIRST TIME VOTING

LOCATION OF MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS

PURGED REGISTRATIONS versus PERMANENT REGISTRATIONS

VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS
Voter Registration Applications are documents issued by the State of Tennessee and may be used in any county within Tennessee.
The Voter Registration Application can be used to:
  • Apply to register to vote,
  • Report a change of address for a voter,
  • Report a name change,
  • Report a change in other information, or
  • Cancel a voter’s registration in another county or state
To be Eligible to Register to Vote in Hamilton County, Tennessee all of the following qualifications must be met:
  • You must be a United States citizen,
  • You must be a legal resident of Hamilton County when submitting a voter registration application,
  • You must be 18 years of age or older by the date of the next election,
  • You must not have been convicted of a felony or, if you have such a conviction, have your voting rights restored as required by state law, and
  • You must submit a properly completed voter registration application at least 30 days before an upcoming election.
These qualifications are the same in each county in Tennessee. To register to vote in Hamilton County, one must be a resident of Hamilton County.

VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM (PDF FORM)

REGISTRATION DEADLINE


Voter Registration Deadlines are specific under the law. If the completed forms are hand-delivered (walked in to the office), they must be delivered by the close of business on the 30th day before any upcoming election. A voter registration deadline could be for a federal, state, county or city election. This deadline is state law.

If the forms are mailed – either by the person attempting to register or the person organizing the voter registration drive – the envelope must be postmarked no later than the 30th day before any upcoming election. A form with a postmark of 29 days or less before Election Day would be considered untimely and the individual would not be eligible to participate in the upcoming election.
 

PROCESSING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS


The Hamilton County Election Commission office personnel stamp all documents with the time and date on which they are received. Voter Registration Applications are categorized as “timely” or “untimely” at the time of receipt based on upcoming election deadlines. If a Mail-In Voter Registration Application is untimely, the voter will be notified by mail that their registration was received after the deadline and he/she will not be eligible to vote in the upcoming election. Applications marked untimely for an election will be processed as soon as the election is over. The voter will then be eligible for the next election.

Voter registrations timely filed are processed in the order in which they are received. An applicant’s eligibility to register is determined by the Hamilton County Election Commission office personnel based on state law. (See requirements listed above.) Registrations that have a deficiency, such as a missing or incomplete social security number, a missing signature, etc, will be rejected and the voter notified in writing. Occasionally, registration forms are received in Hamilton County belonging to a neighboring county. Those forms will be forwarded to the appropriate County Election office.
 

REGISTERING BY MAIL BEFORE FIRST TIME VOTING

Individuals who register by mail must vote in person the first time they appear to vote. The definition of “in person” would be to appear personally at their election day polling place or an early voting location with proper identification.

Acceptable Forms of Identification to be Used
By the By-Mail Registrant Voting for the First Time

Examples of Acceptable Photo Identification
(Must contain Photograph and Signature)

Examples of Acceptable Non-Photo Identification
(Must contain Name, Address and Signature)
  1. Tennessee Driver License
  2. U.S. Passport
  3. Student Identification Card
  4. Military Identification Card
  5. Employee Identification Card
  6. Valid Commercial Pilot’s License

1.      Tennessee Voter Registration Card

2.      Valid Identification Card issued by any Tennessee Agency or an agency of the U.S.

3.      Valid Pilot’s License issued by Federal Aviation Administration or other authorized agency in the United States

4.      Valid Tennessee Hunting or Fishing License

5.      Valid Tennessee License to Carry a Handgun


 
NOTE: HAVA identification requirements are met with a photo identification or identification that contains the voter’s name and address.

Tennessee identification requirements are met with identification that contains the voter’s signature.

To vote, both HAVA and Tennessee requirements must be met before the first time voter who registered by mail may be allowed to vote.
 

LOCATION OF MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS


The Hamilton County Election Office has placed mail-in application forms at each U.S. Post Office in our county. Additionally, forms can be found at any City Hall or Public Library. The Department of Safety, Department of Human Services, Military Recruiting Offices, Hamilton County Health Department and the County Clerk’s Office also have forms available during normal business hours.

Voter Registration Forms are also available by CLICKING HERE. Download the form and print it out on white paper. Complete the form in blue or black ink or with a typewriter. Mail the form to our address at least 30 days before any upcoming election day. Forms completed in pencil will be rejected.
 

PURGED REGISTRATIONS versus PERMANENT REGISTRATIONS


Many citizens think voter registration is permanent – once registered, always registered. This is not true. Previously, Tennessee used the term “permanent” on election documents which added to this incorrect belief. The word “permanent” no longer appears on voter registration cards.

As required by law, all 95 County Election Offices in Tennessee purge voter registration records on a daily basis. Upon receipt of notice that “John Q. Public” has registered in another county or state, his name is immediately purged from the Hamilton County voter database. Should “Mr. Public” attempt to vote in Hamilton County, he will be advised that he was purged from our records when he registered elsewhere.
 
Other Legal Reasons to Purge a Voter:
  • Upon receipt of a request to purge the registration from the voter,
  • Upon the death of the voter,
  • Upon written confirmation that the voter has moved outside the county of registration or has registered to vote in another jurisdiction,
  • Upon learning that a voter has had a name change for ninety (90) days or more, except by marriage, and the voter has failed to notify the election office, or
  • Upon receiving official confirmation that the voter has been convicted of an infamous crime as defined in T.C.A. 40-20-112.