NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging all eligible voters to prepare for the upcoming November election by verifying their voter registration and making the decision whether to vote in-person or absentee.
Those voting in-person, whether it is during early voting or on Election Day, can expect to see the same safety precautions as those during the August election.
Poll officials will all wear face coverings and be trained on social distancing protocols. They will also be provided with personal protective equipment such as gowns, face shields and gloves.
Voters will be given a single-use pen or a disposable stylus to select their candidate. Sanitizer will also be available at the polling station.
For those who chose to vote absentee by mail, ballots will begin to be mailed out in September.
Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins suggests anyone voting absentee to vote and mail it back as soon as possible. All absentee ballots must be returned by mail.
In Tennessee, voters must have a legal reason listed in the law to be eligible to vote absentee. This does include eligible voters who have a particular vulnerability to COVID-19 and are unable to appear at their polling place on election day, as well as, those who are caretakers of someone who is vulnerable to the virus.
Key dates for Tennessee voters:
Voter registration deadline: October 5
Absentee ballot request deadline: October 27
Early voting: October 14 through October 29
Election Day: November 3
For more information about the November election or to check your voter registration, click here.
