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One of the
goals of the Hamilton County Election Commission is
to encourage every eligible citizen to register to
vote. |
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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 |
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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
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VOTER REGISTRATION
APPLICATIONS |
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| Voter Registration
Applications are documents issued by the State of
Tennessee and may be used in any county within
Tennessee. |
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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
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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.
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| 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. |
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VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION
FORM
(PDF FORM) |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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What IDs are acceptable?
Any
of the following IDs may be used, even if expired:
• Tennessee drivers license with your photo
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United States Passport
• Photo ID issued by the
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Photo ID issued by the federal or any state
government
• United States Military photo ID
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State-issued handgun carry permit with your photo
What IDs are
not acceptable?
College
student IDs and photo IDs not issued by the federal
or a state government are NOT acceptable.
Who is exempt?
• Voters who
vote absentee by mail (view requirements here)
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Voters who are residents of a licensed nursing home
or assisted living center and who vote at the
facility
• Voters who are hospitalized
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Voters with a religious objection to being
photographed
• Voters who are indigent and unable
to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee
What if I registered by mail and am voting in my
first election?
Federal law requires first
time voters who register by mail to present one of
the following:
• A current photo
identification with voter’s name and photo OR
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If the photo identification 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. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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