As voters head to the polls Tuesday in the 2022 general election, here are what Tennessee and Georgia voters should know:
TENNESSEE
What's on the ballot: Volunteer State voters will be casting ballots in contests for governor, all nine U.S. House seats, all 99 state House seats and odd-numbered state Senate seats. Voters will also decide four proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution as well as vote in some local municipal elections. No U.S. Senate seats are on Tennessee's ballot this year.
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Poll hours: Polls open across Tennessee's 95 counties at various times but must close at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST. Hamilton County polling sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling stations across the state must be open between 10 and 13 hours. But an individual in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. A list of when polling locations open is available on GoVoteTN.gov.
(READ MORE: Four candidates campaign for two spots on Collegedale commission)
Voter ID: To cast a ballot, voters need to bring valid photo identification. A driver's license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable even if it's expired. Tennessee-issued handgun permits are acceptable. Student college IDs or out-of-state driver's license are not acceptable.
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For more information about what types of IDs are permitted, visit GoVoteTN.gov or call 877-850-4959.
In case you didn't know: Tennessee voters will see four proposed amendments to the state constitution on their ballot.
-- Amendment 1 seeks to enshrine the state's existing law regarding union representation in the state constitution. It would make it illegal for any person, corporation, association or the state or its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person because of the person's membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization.
-- Amendment 2 would create a constitutional process for the temporary exercise of the powers and duties of the governor by the Speaker of the Senate -- or the Speaker of the House if there is no Speaker of the Senate in office -- when the governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor.
-- Amendment 3 would eliminate current language that says slavery and involuntary servitude, "except as punishment for a person who has been duly convicted of crime," is prohibited. The amendment replaces it with the following language: "Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime."
(READ MORE: Amendment 3 would eliminate exception to Tennessee slavery ban)
-- Amendment 4 would remove an unconstitutional provision that prohibits ministers of the gospel and priests of any denomination from holding a seat in the legislature.
Local municipal elections: Voters residing in eight cities and towns within Hamilton County will decide contests for public office. The municipalities are Collegedale, East Ridge, Lakesite, Red Bank, Ridgeside, Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain and Walden. Walden voters will also be voting on a referendum on whether to allow liquor-by-the-drink in the town.
(READ MORE: National political divide seeps into small city government of Red Bank)
Voting tips: Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett says casting your ballot in the midmorning or midafternoon may shorten your time. Early morning, noon and after 5 p.m. are peak times as people typically vote before work, after work or on their lunch breaks. Physically disabled or visibly pregnant voters can request to move through the process faster.
(READ MORE: East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams seeks re-election)
More information: Tennesseans can access voter-specific Election Day information, including polling times, locations, sample ballots, election results and more at GoVoteTN.gov or the secretary of state's free GoVoteTN app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play.
The secretary of state's office will post minute-by-minute unofficial results on its Twitter accounts @tngovelection, @tnushouse, @tnsenategen, @tnhousegen and @tnconstamend. The secretary of state's office will also post unofficial election results on elections.tn.gov.
(READ MORE: East Ridge resident Dick Cook running as write-in candidate for mayor)
GEORGIA
After breaking early-voting records in a year in which the ballot includes competitive races for governor and U.S. Senate, Georgia voters head back to the polls Tuesday for Election Day.
What's on the ballot: Governor, one of the two U.S. Senate seats, all 14 Congressional seats, all 180 state House and 56 state Senate seats. Also on the ballot are offices for lieutenant governor, state attorney general, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, agriculture commissioner, labor commissioner and insurance commissioner.
Poll hours: Georgia polls operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voter ID: Georgia residents must show a valid photo ID when voting in person. Acceptable forms of voter identification include a Georgia driver's license or a U.S. passport. The state of Georgia also offers a free voter ID card, which can be issued at any county board of registrar's office and can be used to vote. A state driver's license can be used even if expired. Voters can also use any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID. Other valid ID includes photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the U.S. government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of Georgia. That includes a valid student ID from a Georgia public college or university or tribal ID.
(READ MORE: Georgia poll watchers and workers gear up for Election Day)
In case you didn't know: Georgia has two proposed constitutional amendments that require voter approval.
-- An amendment to suspend pay for certain public officials if they are suspended from office for being indicted for a felony.
-- An amendment allowing local governments to grant temporary tax relief to certain properties that are damaged or destroyed due to a disaster.
(READ MORE: Sen. Raphael Warnock focuses on health care in Dalton, Georgia campaign stop)
Georgia also has two other measures to create or expand tax exemptions that require voter approval, according to the state constitution.
-- One is for merged family-owned farms, with expansion to include dairy products and eggs.
-- The second is for timber equipment.
If you have a problem: Request voter assistance if you need it. If you require special assistance to vote or to access your polling place, contact your county board of registrar's office for help.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.