Written by: JR Robinson

As the 2024 election cycle approaches, Tennessee candidates and campaigns must prioritize educating voters on the state's absentee voting process. With strict eligibility requirements and a firm receipt deadline for absentee ballots, ensuring that eligible voters are informed about their options is crucial for promoting widespread participation in the democratic process.

Fortunately, ThinkTennessee, a nonpartisan think tank, has released a comprehensive voter education series, including a policy brief dedicated to absentee voting in the state. This invaluable resource provides a wealth of information on the rules, requirements, and deadlines associated with absentee voting, empowering candidates and campaigns to effectively disseminate this information to their constituents.

According to ThinkTennessee's absentee voting brief, Tennessee voters are eligible to vote absentee in an election if they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:

• Being outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
• Being enrolled as a full-time student or having a spouse enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county of registration
• Being unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court
• Being 60 years of age or older
• Having a physical disability and the polling place being inaccessible
• Being hospitalized, ill, or physically disabled, making it impossible to vote in person
• Being the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled
• Being a candidate for office in the election
• Serving as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of an Election Day commission
• Observing a religious holiday that prevents voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day
• Possessing a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and being required to work outside the state or county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
• Being a member of the military or an overseas citizen
• Having a licensed physician file a statement with the county election commission stating that the voter is medically unable to vote in person, with the statement filed no less than seven days before Election Day and signed under the penalty of perjury
• Residing in a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside the voter's county of residence

It is crucial for candidates and campaigns to educate voters on these eligibility criteria to ensure that those who qualify are aware of their option to vote absentee.

According to ThinkTennessee's brief, to vote absentee in Tennessee, a request must be received by county election officials no earlier than 90 days and no later than seven days prior to the election. [4] This request can be made in person, by mail, or through other methods approved by the local election office.

Candidates and campaigns should emphasize the importance of submitting absentee ballot requests well in advance of the seven-day deadline to ensure that voters receive their ballots in time to cast their votes.

Once an absentee ballot is received, voters must carefully follow the instructions for completing and returning it. According to ThinkTennessee's brief and the information provided by Vote.org, completed absentee ballots in Tennessee must be returned by mail and received by the close of polls on Election Day. [4][5]

It is important for candidates and campaigns to emphasize the strict receipt deadline for absentee ballots in Tennessee. Unlike some other states, Tennessee does not accept absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but received after the polls close. This means that voters must plan ahead and allow sufficient time for their ballots to be delivered and processed by election officials.

Candidates and campaigns should also inform voters about the requirement to return absentee ballots by mail and the prohibition on hand-delivering completed ballots to polling places or election offices.

To ensure that their voices are heard, voters should be encouraged to track the status of their absentee ballots. According to Vote.org, Tennessee voters can track their ballots directly with the state through various online tools and resources provided by local election officials. [5]

Candidates and campaigns can play a crucial role in promoting these tracking tools and encouraging their supporters to verify that their absentee ballots have been received and accepted by election officials.

ThinkTennessee's absentee voting brief is a valuable resource for candidates, campaigns, and voters alike. By providing clear and concise information on eligibility requirements, request deadlines, return procedures, and ballot tracking, this resource empowers Tennesseans to participate fully in the democratic process through absentee voting.

As the 2024 elections approach, it is crucial for candidates and campaigns to prioritize voter education and engagement efforts surrounding absentee voting. Sharing ThinkTennessee's absentee voting brief and other resources from the voter education series can help ensure that every eligible voter has the information they need to exercise their right to vote, even if they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day.

Furthermore, candidates and campaigns should consider incorporating absentee voting education initiatives into their strategies, such as hosting informational sessions, distributing educational materials, and leveraging social media and other digital platforms to reach a wider audience.

By demystifying the absentee voting process and promoting widespread voter education, Tennessee can take a significant step towards increasing civic engagement and fostering a more inclusive and representative democracy.

As the high-stakes U.S. Senate race between Marsha Blackburn and Gloria Johnson intensifies, ensuring that every eligible voter understands the absentee voting process and its strict deadlines will be crucial in shaping the outcome of this pivotal election and the future of Tennessee.