Chattanooga residents have a week left to register to vote in the March 4 city elections that will determine the city’s mayor and the makeup of the city council for the next four years.
Would-be voters can register online until Feb. 3 at ovr.govote.tn.gov, at the Hamilton County Election Commission office or by mail.
First-time voters who mail in their registration applications need to include a copy of current photo identification that includes their names. Federal- and state-issued photo identification, including a handgun-carry permit, can be used to register.
If a voter’s ID is expired, he or she can use documents including utility bills, bank statements, government checks or paychecks that include the voter’s name, in addition to the expired ID.
The Chattanooga Public Library system, Chattanooga’s city hall, the Hamilton County Health Department and the county clerk’s office have paper voter registration forms. Every post office in Hamilton County also has mail-in applications.
Voters who register online also need to show a Tennessee driver’s license or Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security identification.
Registration so far in 2025 has been relatively light. Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Scott Allen said by phone that the number of new registrations in 2025 sat at 547. That’s a decline from 2021, when the most recent set of city elections were held. Near the end of January 2021, 755 Chattanooga residents had registered to vote.
“In 2021, you had no incumbent mayor and 15 people running for mayor,” Allen said. “That was a little more excitement.”
Voters can request absentee ballots until Feb. 22.
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In March, incumbent Mayor Tim Kelly will face one challenger, Chris Long. Council Chair Chip Henderson, of Lookout Valley, has one opponent in James “Skip” Burnette. An open seat being vacated by current council member Ken Smith, of Hixson, has drawn candidates Jeff Davis and Tom Marshall.
Three city council candidates face no opposition in their races. Two council members — Raquetta Dotley, of East Lake, and Jenny Hill, of North Chattanooga — are unopposed. Candidate Cody Harvey, of East Brainerd, is unopposed in his race to replace council member Darrin Ledford, of East Brainerd.
Council member Isiah Hester, of Washington Hills, has drawn challengers Dennis Clark, Cory Hall and Samantha Reid-Hawkins. Council member Marvene Noel, of Orchard Knob, will compete against Anna Golladay, Doll Sandridge and Kelvin Scott to keep her seat.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga City Council member Carol Berz has died)
The December death of council member Carol Berz, of Brainerd Hills, led five candidates to return petitions in time to run for her seat. Berz’s daughter, Jenni Berz, will vie with Jennifer Gregory, Mark Holland, Christian Siler and Robert C. Wilson for the seat. The council is set to appoint a temporary replacement Tuesday.
Council member Demetrus Coonrod, of Eastlake, is not running for reelection. Ron Elliott, Letechia Ellis and Evelina Kertay are running for the seat she is vacating.
Early voting for the city elections will run from Feb. 12 through Feb. 27. Voters can choose among three locations during early voting: the election commission office off Amnicola Highway, the Chris L. Ramsey Community Center and the Hixson Community Center.
Contact Mariah Franklin at mfranklin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.