NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Whether online or on paper, registering to vote is the first step in preparing for this November’s election.
The registration deadline is Oct. 5 and if you’re not sure how to fill out the form, you’ve come to the right place.
At American Baptist College, the historic school known for such alumni as congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, held a voter registration day on campus Friday.
President of American Baptist College Dr. Forrest E. Harris gave opening remarks to remind us of the importance of carrying on the legacies of these great civil rights leaders, by exercising our right to vote.
“We should never forget them and now that we represent them in our living bodies, we need to show up in the polls to vote in this election, because it is the most important election in our lifetime,” Harris said.
We met with Timothy Hughes and the group Black Voters Matter, who walked us through how to complete the paper registration. For most it takes only a few minutes, but having never registered in Tennessee before, Hughes was there to make sure nothing was missed.
“Time is of the essence. October the 5th is the voter registration deadline and early vote begins on October 14. So we want to encourage as many people as possible to make sure they complete the form,” Hughes said.
At the very top of every application you see a list of standard instructions that include using a black or blue pen, as well as making sure to mark each box with an “X.” Move further down the page and you’ll find the qualifying questions to determine if you can vote at all.
- Are you a citizen?
- Are you a resident of Tennessee?
- Are you at least 18 years old on or before the next election?
- Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
If you've had a felony conviction, your eligibility to register and vote depends on the crime you were convicted of and the date of your conviction. For more information about this process, call 1-877-850-4959.
On the top right corner is a small box that Hughes says often goes forgotten. I myself missed it on the first time through, but what it asks is if you’re interested in working on election day? That includes working at any number of voting locations.
Below all the instructions that follow and you see where you write your personal information.
“You include your personal details. Your first name, your last name, your middle name, your date of birth and your full social security,” Hughes said.
Make sure to give as much detail as you can, as this information is how election officials will contact you and later confirm your identity on election day.
“You want to put as much information on the voter registration form, so that when it is received by the election commission, it can be processed quickly,” Hughes said.
That includes your address, which should be current if you want any hope of getting the ballot that reflects the races that matter to where you live.
There’s a question about where you last registered to vote, if that applies. Sign and date, stating everything is true to the best of your knowledge and you’re ready.
You’re probably wondering, “I could do this so much faster online,” and you’re most likely right.
These same questions, in this same order can be found here. You will need a Tennessee ID to get past the first page of the application which is where paper applications make up the difference.
If you register by mail however, you must vote in person the first time you vote after registering. If you’re qualified and the information on your form is accepted, your county will add your name to the voter rolls. You will then be mailed a voter registration card. This card will tell you where to vote.
When you arrive on election day, you will need your government-issued ID to verify you are who you say you are. Again, this does not have to be a TN ID.
As long as you’ve registered as a Tennessee resident, your voter registration card helps to confirm you’re eligible to vote.
Davidson County election offices will open on Saturday and again until late on Monday, You can register until midnight on October 5.
