NASHVILLE — Secretary of State Tre Hargett is reminding Tennesseans that Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote and be able to cast a ballot in the Nov. 8 state and federal general election.
"I encourage all Tennesseans to register to vote or make sure their registration is up-to-date before the registration deadline," Hargett said in a statement. "To make your voice heard on election day, you must be registered to vote. Fortunately, it has never been easier for Tennesseans to register to vote or update their registration."
Hargett says registering to vote as well as updating or checking registration status is "fast, easy and secure" with his office's online voter registration system, GoVoteTN.gov.
Using a computer, phone or tablet, any U.S. citizen with a driver's license or a photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security can register in minutes at GoVoteTN.gov. Each submission is checked against the department's database.
Voters can download a paper voter registration application at GoVoteTN.gov. Completed paper voter registration applications must be mailed to your local county election commission office or submitted in person. Mailed voter registrations must be postmarked by Tuesday.
Tennessee does not have election day registration.
Early voting for the Nov. 8 state and federal general election starts Oct. 19 and runs Monday to Saturday until Nov. 3.
The deadline to request an absentee by-mail ballot is Nov. 1.
Hargett says the Secretary of State's Office and county election commissions are reliable sources for accurate election information. For trustworthy election information, he said, follow the secretary of state's social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate.
The Nov. 8 ballot includes contests for governor and Congress. No U.S. Senate contests are on the ballot this election cycle. But all 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives and odd-numbered Tennesee Senate seats are on the ballot.
For more information about registering to vote in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.gov or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.
— Compiled by Andy Sher