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2012 Voter Identification Requirements

Beginning January 1, 2012, all voters must present an ID containing the voter’s name and photograph when voting at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day.

Click here for more information.

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First Election Under New Photo ID Law A Success
(Published: February 8, 2012)
Photo ID

Waynesboro resident Kimberly Beckham was the first
person in Tennessee to cast a ballot under the
provisions of the state’s new photo ID law.

Waynesboro made history Tuesday by holding the first election since Tennessee’s voter photo identification law went into effect.

Although there are some exceptions, the law generally requires voters to show valid photo identification before casting their ballots. The purpose of the new law, which took effect Jan. 1, is to safeguard against a type of election fraud known as voter impersonation.

In all, 354 voters cast ballots in the Waynesboro city election, including 37 who voted absentee.

As expected, there were no problems related to the implementation of the new law.

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February 13, 2012 State Election Commission Meeting
(Published: January 31, 2012)
February 6, 2012 TN Highway Officials Certification Board Meeting
(Published: January 31, 2012)
New Voter Photo ID Law Goes Into Effect January 1
(Published: December 29, 2011)

As a new law that will require Tennesseans to show photo identification when they vote goes into effect January 1, Division of Elections officials are continuing their voter outreach efforts.

“Our focus, up to this year’s elections and beyond, is educating voters about what this law will mean to them,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett, who oversees the division. “Our voter outreach efforts so far have been unprecedented. I commend Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins, his staff, county election officials and all the other individuals and groups across the state who have worked so hard to get the message out.”

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January 9, 2012 State Election Commission Meeting
(Published: December 29, 2011)
December 29, 2011 Telephonic Meeting for State Election Commission
(Published: December 21, 2011)
March 2012 Presidential Preference Primary Delegates
(Published: December 20, 2011)
Division of Elections to Assist Tennessee Disability Coalition
(Published: December 8, 2011)

The Tennessee Division of Elections is assisting the Tennessee Disability Coalition with a project aimed at identifying the best practices in the conduct of elections.

The Tennessee Disability Coalition is part of the Research Alliance for Accessible Voting, which recently was awarded a grant by the federal Election Assistance Commission to study methods for improving ballot access.

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Secretary Hargett Announces Candidates for Tennessee’s March Presidential Primary
(Published: December 5, 2011)

Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced the nine Republican candidates and one Democrat who are scheduled to compete in Tennessee’s March 6 presidential preference primary elections.

Secretary Hargett announced the candidates’ names during a State Election Commission meeting this afternoon.

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Division of Elections Partners with Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature to Educate Students about Photo ID Law
(Published: December 5, 2011)

The Division of Elections is teaming up with the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) to inform college students about the state’s new law that requires photo identification in order to vote.

Division staff members will conduct workshops about the new law with TISL representatives, who will then return to their respective college campuses to share information with fellow students and campus media.

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Writ of Election for 20th and 21st Judicial Districts
(Published: November 15, 2011)
Knoxville Special Election Results
(Published: November 8, 2011)

View unofficial results for the November 8, 2011 Knoxville Special Election.

Results courtesy of Knox County Election Commission.

Division of Elections Creates Town Hall Video for Those Who Missed the Recently Held Statewide Voter Outreach Events
(Published: November 3, 2011)

As part of an ongoing effort to bring awareness to Tennessee voters about a new law that will require them to show a state or federally issued photo identification at the polls starting next year, the Division of Elections has developed a town hall video that may be found on the division’s web page at http://www.GoVoteTn.com.

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Elections Offices Across State to Participate in Unprecedented Voter Outreach Campaign Regarding New Photo ID Requirement
(Published: October 24, 2011)

As part of an ongoing effort to inform voters about a new law that will require them to show valid photo identification at the polls, election officials in all 95 Tennessee counties will be hosting outreach programs Nov. 1. State election officials believe this is the first time in Tennessee history voter outreach programs have been conducted in all 95 counties on the same day.

The formats may vary from county to county, but most are hosting town hall meetings where citizens can ask questions about the new law.

A list with the time and location of each county’s event can be viewed at http://tnsos.net/Elections/voterid/PresentationsList.php.

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November 14, 2011 State Election Commission Meeting Canceled
(Published: October 11, 2011)
October 10, 2011, State Election Commission Meeting
(Published: September 28, 2011)
Special Election Primary Results
(Published: September 27, 2011)

View unofficial results for the September 27, 2011 Special Election Primary.

Results courtesy of Knox County Election Commission.

State Election Commission Telephonic Meeting
(Published: September 15, 2011)

Meeting to be held September 21, 2011 at 3:00pm central time. View Notice.

September 12, 2011 State Election Commission Meeting
(Published: August 29, 2011)
Writ of Election
(Published: July 29, 2011)

Check out the dates for the special primaries and general election to fill the state Senate's District 6 seat here.

Campaign to Educate Public about Photo ID Requirement for Voting
(Published: July 27, 2011)

The Tennessee Department of State has launched a campaign to educate citizens about the new photo identification requirement that will go into effect for elections held in the state after Jan. 1, 2012.

After that date, people who wish to vote will be required to show photo identification when they arrive at the polls. Accepted forms of identification include any photo ID issued by the State of Tennessee - including drivers’ licenses - and photo IDs issued by other states or the federal government, including U.S. passports, government employee identification cards and military ID cards.

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The Division of Elections is headed by the Coordinator of Elections, Mark Goins, who oversees the election process in the State of Tennessee. The Coordinator of Elections works directly with ninety-five (95) local county election commissions, candidates and the public on election related issues.  The county election commissions are appointed by the State Election Commission.  There are ninety-five (95) county election commission offices throughout the State. 

Division of Elections
Mark Goins, Coordinator of Elections
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Snodgrass Tower, 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-7956
1-877-850-4959
tennessee.elections@tn.gov

Below are answers to frequently asked questions.

Can't find what you need? Contact Elections at (615) 741-7956 or tennessee.elections@tn.gov