2026 Voting Guides

Tennessee voting guide

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here’s what you need to vote in Tennessee.

Check Your Registration

Even if you voted last time, check that you’re still registered. Check your registration

Register by:
  • Online, by mail, or in person: Mon., Oct. 5

Key Dates

  • Last day to register to vote (online, mail postmark, or in person)
  • Early voting begins
  • Last day for county to receive your absentee (mail) ballot request
  • Early voting ends
  • Election Day; mail ballots must be received by close of polls

Your Voting Checklist

  • Vote early in person from Wed., Oct. 14 to Thurs., Oct. 29.
  • Vote by mail. You can vote by mail if you are:
    • 60 years or older
    • Out of your county during early voting and Election Day
    • Sick, in the hospital, or disabled
    • Caring for someone who is sick or disabled
    • You or your spouse are a college student outside your county
    • Living in a nursing home outside your county
    • Running for office in this election
    • A religious holiday keeps you from voting in person
    • Working as an election official
    • Called for jury duty
    • Disabled and your polling place is not accessible
    • Commercial driver or transport worker away for work
    • In the military or living overseas
    • On the permanent absentee list

    Request a ballot by Sat., Oct. 24. Request a mail ballot
    Return it by Tues., Nov. 3.
  • Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, Opening times vary by county. Find your polling place
  • Bring the right ID. You must show a Tennessee or federal photo ID to vote in person, even if it is expired.
    • Tennessee driver's license with photo
    • Tennessee photo ID card
    • Other Tennessee or federal photo ID
    • U.S. passport
    • U.S. military photo ID
    • Tennessee handgun carry permit with photo
    No ID? You can vote a provisional ballot, then show your ID at the election office within two business days. See the official ID rules
  • Review your sample ballot before you go.
  • Have a past conviction?
    • A felony conviction takes away your right to vote.
    • To get it back, finish your sentence, pay what you owe, and get a court order.
    • Some serious crimes mean you can never get it back.
  • Make a plan and bring three people. Make a plan

What’s on Your Ballot

These are the biggest races in Tennessee this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.

Governor

  • Marsha Blackburn Republican · Campaign site
  • U.S. senator from Tennessee since 2019; former U.S. House member.
  • Jerri Green Democratic · Campaign site
  • Memphis City Council member (District 2) since 2024.

Stance on key issues

Voting rights & elections

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Lists "Protecting Tennessee Elections and Supporting Party Registration" as a campaign priority. Source

Jerri Green Democratic

No public position found.

Policing, prisons & public safety

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Supports a "law-and-order" approach, including automated surveillance cameras and National Guard deployment for public safety. Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Opposes deploying the National Guard in Memphis. Opposes using AI in bail, sentencing or parole decisions, and wants privacy limits on surveillance. Source

Immigration

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Supports the Trump administration's mass deportations and local 287(g) agreements with ICE. Has said of immigrants here illegally, "They can't stay and they have to pay." Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Says she would "end 287(g) agreements on Day One" and stop Tennessee Highway Patrol cooperation with ICE. Source

Abortion & health care

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Has said she is "100% pro-life" and supports Tennessee's current abortion ban. Opposes expanding Medicaid. Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Has called the state abortion ban "far too restrictive" and supports reproductive freedom and IVF access. Supports expanding Medicaid to protect rural hospitals. Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Opposes new taxes and a state income tax. Favors business tax cuts and says she will "cut taxes to bolster our economy." Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Supports ending the state sales tax on groceries, paid for by closing "corporate loopholes" and a corporate minimum tax. Source

Workers & wages

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Opposes raising the minimum wage. Has said minimum wage increases "destroy jobs." Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Supports raising the minimum wage "to at least $20," expanding paid family leave, and collective bargaining. Source

Housing

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Wants to "reduce barriers to developing" homes through "limited and simplified permitting." Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Proposes help with rental security deposits and homeownership programs, and priority housing help for veterans. Source

Schools

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Wants to expand Tennessee's school voucher program "until no parent has to win the lottery." Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Would end the state voucher program and put "public dollars back into public schools." Source

Civil rights, DEI & LGBTQ+ rights

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Lists "Protecting Women's Sports" as a campaign priority, which refers to limiting girls' and women's sports to people assigned female at birth. Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Says she would "fight against and veto all anti-LGBTQ+ legislation" and fund LGBTQ+ services. Source

Climate & environmental justice

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Supports investing in nuclear energy, including small modular reactors at Oak Ridge. Source

Jerri Green Democratic

Supports investing in renewable energy and green jobs and protecting rivers, forests and farmland. Wants more community input on nuclear energy. Source

Books, press & public media

Marsha Blackburn Republican

As a senator, voted for the 2025 Rescissions Act, which cut federal funding for public broadcasting (Corporation for Public Broadcasting). Source

Jerri Green Democratic

No public position found.

U.S. Senate

  • Marquita Bradshaw Democratic · Campaign site
  • Environmental justice organizer; 2020 Democratic nominee for this seat.
  • Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent · Campaign site
  • U.S. senator since 2021; former U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Stance on key issues

Voting rights & elections

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Supports fair voting laws, transparent elections and independent redistricting. Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Policing, prisons & public safety

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

No public position found.

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Supports the federal law enforcement task force in Memphis. Has pointed to "over 500 arrests" as results. Source

Immigration

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

No public position found.

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Voted for the Laken Riley Act (2025), which requires ICE to detain immigrants without legal status who are charged with theft and certain other crimes. Source

Abortion & health care

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Says every Tennessean deserves affordable, high-quality health care. Priorities include lower drug prices, rural hospitals, mental health and maternal care. Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Has said "we have a moral duty to protect unborn children" and praised the Dobbs ruling. Voted for the 2025 tax-and-spending law (H.R. 1), which reduced future Medicaid spending. Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Supports small businesses. Says the economy should not be shaped by "corporations and billionaires." Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which extended the 2017 tax cuts and changed SNAP and Medicaid rules. Source

Workers & wages

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Supports expanding good-paying jobs and "ensuring fair wages." Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Housing

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Supports more affordable housing, help for renters and first-time buyers, and action on homelessness. Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Schools

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Supports well-funded public schools and competitive teacher pay. Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which created a federal tax credit for donations to private-school scholarship groups. Source

Climate & environmental justice

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

Supports clean energy, less pollution, and protecting communities from climate threats. Source

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Supports expanding nuclear energy as part of "American energy dominance." Source

Books, press & public media

Marquita Bradshaw Democratic

No public position found.

Bill Hagerty Republican, incumbent

Voted for the 2025 Rescissions Act, which cut federal funding for public broadcasting (Corporation for Public Broadcasting). Source

Ballot measures

  • Constitutional Amendment 1 (Bail). Lets a judge deny bail before trial for some serious charges, such as capital offenses, terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape, aggravated rape of a child, grave torture, and other crimes that require serving at least 85% of a sentence.
    Yes means courts could hold people charged with these crimes in jail before trial with no bail.
    No means the current right to bail stays as it is (bail can be denied only in capital cases where proof is evident).
  • Constitutional Amendment 2 (State property tax ban). Adds language that bans the state Legislature from creating a state tax on property. Local property taxes are not affected.
    Yes means the state could never levy its own property tax.
    No means the constitution stays as it is; the state could, in theory, pass a state property tax in the future.
  • Constitutional Amendment 3 (Crime victims' rights). Clarifies existing rights for crime victims and adds new ones in the state constitution.
    Yes means crime victims' rights in the constitution would be updated and expanded.
    No means the current list of victims' rights stays as it is.

Protect the Vote

  • Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
  • Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
  • If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
    • Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
    • Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (Spanish)
    • Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian languages)
    • Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
    • Call Tennessee Division of Elections: 1-877-850-4959
    • If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
    • If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
    • Know your rights

Organizations to Support

Anti-Racism Daily will never tell you who to vote for and does not endorse candidates. Information here has been pulled from the internet and may be inaccurate. Please fact-check your sources. If you spot a mistake, please let us know so we can fix it.

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