Election Laws

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation incorrectly stated that early voting would be reduced to seven days for most elections instead of five days.

Changes to Early Voting Period in Tennessee

This bill changes the early voting period from twelve days to five days before an election and allows up to fourteen days for presidential preference primaries.

What This Bill Does

• Reduces the early voting period for most elections to a range of not more than twelve (12) days nor less than five (5) days before the day of the election.
• Allows up to fourteen days of early voting during presidential preference primaries, but only if they coincide with another election.
• Requires voters to sign an application for a ballot when voting early.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters in Tennessee who wish to vote early.
• County election commissions responsible for managing early voting periods and polling places.

Terms To Know

Early Voting

The period before an election when voters can cast their ballots at designated locations.

Presidential Preference Primary

An election where voters choose the candidate they prefer for a presidential nomination within a political party.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how local governments will be compensated for any potential increased costs due to changes in early voting periods.
• It is unclear if this change will affect voter turnout or convenience in Tennessee elections.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 2615
By Hill

SENATE BILL 2583
By Crowe
SB2583
011318
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to early voting.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-102(a)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead:
(1) A voter who desires to vote early shall go to the county election commission
office or another polling place appropriately designated by the county election
commission within the posted hours not more than twelve (12) days nor less than five (5)
days before the day of the election. A voter desiring to vote in the early voting period
shall sign an application for a ballot.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-102(c), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting instead:
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), when a presidential preference primary is
held or an election is held at the same time as a presidential preference primary, a voter
who desires to vote early for such elections shall go to the county election commission
office within the posted hours not more than fourteen (14) days nor less than seven (7)
days before the day of the election. This subsection (c) shall not apply to voting
pursuant to § 2-6-601.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.