Tennesseans must register to vote by Oct. 7 if they want to cast a ballot in the November general election.
The deadline to register in Georgia is also Oct. 7, which is 30 days before Election Day on Nov. 5.
In addition to choosing the next president, voters will be weighing in on state and local representatives and other issues.
Tennessee has had historically low voter turnout in recent elections — in August, 15% of eligible voters in Hamilton County cast a ballot. But, officials say, presidential races tend to bring out the biggest crowds.
Hamilton County has added around 8,000 voter registrations since the August election, Nate Foster, assistant elections commissioner, said in an email.
That brings the total number of registered voters in the county to 239,044, according to election commission data. That’s about 80% of the roughly 300,000 people over voting age in Hamilton County, based on state data.
In 2020, the county added 12,000 new voters between the August primary and November general elections, Foster said. In 2016, 7,500 new voters registered during the same period.
HOW TO REGISTER
Tennessee voters can register online at ovr.govote.tn.gov.
To be eligible, you have to be a Tennessee resident and U.S. citizen over 18. If you have a felony conviction, you may have to check if you’re eligible based on when you were convicted and whether you’ve restored your rights.
You can also print a copy of the registration application and mail or bring it in person to your local election commission office. In Hamilton County, the office is at 700 River Terminal Road in Chattanooga, off Amnicola Highway. Mailed applications have to be postmarked by Oct. 7 to be accepted, according to state rules.
To register to vote by mail with an absentee ballot, voters must apply by Oct. 29. To qualify, you have to meet certain requirements: being over 60 years old, outside the county during the election, too sick or caring for someone else.
Around 3,500 Hamilton County residents had requested absentee ballots as of last week, according to the election commission.
In 2020, 17,802 people cast ballots through the mail, a jump from around 4,000 in 2016 that was likely largely caused by the pandemic.
ON THE BALLOT
Voters across the U.S. will choose between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris as the country’s next leader.
(READ MORE: Donations to Harris campaign spike in Hamilton County)
In Tennessee, they’ll also vote for Senate representation, between incumbent Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn and state Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Southeast Tennessee, will face Democratic challenger Jack Allen and independent candidates Jean Howard-Hill and Stephen “Scooter” King.
In Hamilton County, several state lawmakers are also facing challengers:
— Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, faces Democrat Missy Crutchfield.
— Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hixson, faces Democrat Allison Gorman.
— Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, faces independent Thomas J. Brooks III.
— Rep. Greg Vital, D-Harrison, faces Democrat Ryan Scofield.
— Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge, faces Democrat Heather McClendon.
Republican Michele Reneau, who ousted sitting Signal Mountain Rep. Patsy Hazlewood in the August primary, will face Democratic nominee and former school board member Kathy Lennon.
There are also municipal elections in East Ridge, Collegedale, Red Bank, Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, Lakesite and Walden.
Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.