Election laws and legislation in Tennessee

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State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election law.

Election law encompasses a wide array of issues, including voter registration, ballot access, early voting, absentee/mail-in voting and voter identification requirements. The laws governing the administration of elections can vary significantly from state to state and even between jurisdictions within states. This article identifies the statutory source of election law in Tennessee and compiles information on proposed and enacted legislation that would modify election law in Tennessee.

Analysis

See also: State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

2024

Tennessee lawmakers adopted 36 bills in 2024, including changes to state voter roll maintenance laws, absentee/mail-in ballot deadlines, and new rules for voter registration drives.

  • HB 835 / SB 137 requires election officials to compare the statewide voter registration database with the Department of Safety database to ensure noncitizens are not registered to vote. Officials were previously allowed, but not required, to compare the databases.
  • HB 2294 / SB 1967 changes the deadline to request an absentee/mail-in ballot from seven to 10 days before an election. Tennessee requires an excuse to request an absentee ballot.
  • HB 1955 / SB 2586 prohibits the pre-filling of information on a voter registration application and makes it a crime for anyone convicted of a felony to handle another voter’s application.

Tennessee legislators also adopted the Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act, which requires presidential electors and alternates to vote for their party’s candidate, or otherwise be replaced as electors. As of 2024, 11 other states had adopted similar laws since 2011.

Election law in Tennessee

See also: Election administration in Tennessee

The laws governing elections in Tennessee are contained in Title 2 of the Tennessee Code.

Election legislation in Tennessee

2025

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Tennessee in 2025. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2024

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Tennessee in 2024. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2023

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Tennessee in 2023. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2022

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in Tennessee in 2022. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.


Election policy ballot measures

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Tennessee ballot measures

Ballotpedia has not tracked any ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Tennessee as of this time.


The Ballot Bulletin

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The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

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Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Tennessee can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Tennessee County Elections Commission

Click here for a list

Tennessee Secretary of State, Elections Division

312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
7th Floor, Snodgrass Tower
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1102
Phone: 615-741-7956
Toll free: 1-877-850-4959
Email: tennessee.elections@tn.gov
Website: http://sos.tn.gov/elections

Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance

312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
WRS Tennessee Tower, 26th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Phone: 615-741-7959
Email: registry.info@tn.gov
Website: https://www.tn.gov/tref/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Footnotes