Tennessee

You may obtain a free photo ID to vote from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

You will be asked to sign a form (called an affidavit) confirming that you do not have a valid government-issued photo ID for voting purposes.

To receive the ID you will also need to provide:

• Proof of US citizenship (such as a birth certificate)
• Two documents to prove Tennessee residency (such as a copy of a utility bill, vehicle registration/title or bank statement

If you do not have a birth certificate, ask to speak with a Driver Service Center manager who will work with you to identify possible other documentation to prove US citizenship.

If your Tennessee driver license does not have a photo you may choose to get a new photo driver license rather than a separate photo ID. 

Free photo IDs are available at 48 of the Driver Service Centers across the state, but are not available at the West Knoxville Reinstatement Center in Knox County. Tell the employee greeting customers that you are at the center for a government-issued photo ID for voting purposes and you will be placed in the “express service” category to reduce wait times.

Get in touch with VoteRiders if you have questions or need free help securing ID.

You do not have to show ID to vote in person in Tennessee if:

• you are a resident of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center and are voting at the facility;
• you are hospitalized;
• you have a religious objection to being photographed; or
• you cannot afford to pay the fee to obtain a photo ID

If you meet one of these exemptions you can fill out a form (called an affidavit) and vote a regular ballot.

If you do not meet one of these exceptions and do not have an accepted ID when you vote in person, you can still cast a provisional ballot. 

In order for your provisional ballot to count, you must bring an accepted ID to the election commission office and sign a form (called an affidavit) within two business days after the election.

Get in touch with VoteRiders if you have questions or need free help securing ID.

You must present a physical ID to vote in Tennessee. You cannot use an image, copy, or digital ID when you are voting in person.

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VoteRiders is here to help! 
Contact us if you have questions or need free help getting ID.

You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in Tennessee.

Your driver’s license or state ID card will show a gold star if it meets REAL ID requirements under federal law.

• Tennessee REAL ID info
• Tennessee REAL ID FAQ

Get in touch with VoteRiders if you have questions or need free help securing ID.

Tennessee voters must meet one of the following excuses to vote absentee:

• You will be outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
• You or your spouse are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county of registration
• You are medically unable; your physician must provide a statement to the County Election Commission
• You reside in a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside your county of residence
• You will be unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court
• You are sixty years of age or older
•  You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place
• You are hospitalized, ill or have a physical disability and are unable to appear at your polling place to vote

AND/OR

• You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or has a disability
• 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
• Your observance of a religious holiday prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day
• You or your spouse possesses a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or you possess a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and certify that you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
• You are a member of the military or you are an overseas citizen

If your mail-in ballot is rejected, the county election commission will send you a notice explaining that your ballot was rejected and what information was incorrect or missing as well as a replacement ballot. If you return your corrected ballot so that it is received by the time the polls close on Election Day, it will be counted.

You can check on the statute of your absentee ballot using Tennessee’s voter lookup page.