Tennessee 

2024 Voting Information and Resources for Disabled Voters

Email organizing@newdisabledsouth.org to request this page in document format.

Have questions about voting, need assistance or want to report any barriers you ran into registering or voting? 

Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

ASL Hotline: 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683)

The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 General Election has passed. 

  • Voting in person

  • Wednesday, October 16 to Thursday, October 31: Early in person voting at any polling place in the county where you’re registered. 

  • Tuesday, November 5: Election Day! You can vote at your assigned polling location. 

  • Make your plan to vote now: 

    • Find your polling place

    • You must have an accepted photo ID to vote. Have questions about Voter ID? Need help getting a Voter ID or want to know if you can still vote if you don't have one? Call or text VoteRiders at 866-432-8683

    • Decide how you’re going to get to and from your polling place. Arrange your transportation ahead of time, don’t wait until the day you want to vote! 

    • Get your friends, family or neighbors to go vote with you

    • Find out what will be on your ballot

      • by calling your County Election Commission or by visiting https://web.go-vote-tn.elections.tn.gov/ 

      • There may be ballot measures, local offices, state offices and federal offices on your ballot. 

      • A ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that you can vote on. They can include important questions about supporting your community & keeping it safe. 

      • State level politicians shape policies & make decisions about programs like Medicaid, waivers, healthcare, affordable housing, schools & more!

      • Local politicians decide things like where or how much public transportation there is, access to voting and how smooth or clean our streets are. 

    • Research the candidates and issues before you vote: 

  • Need a ride to the polls? 

    • Knoxville Area Public Transit is offering free rides on Election Day

  • Voting by mail/absentee

    • If you have a disability, are 60 or older, or will be away from home on Election Day, you can vote by mail in Tennessee. 

    • Requesting your ballot:

    • Returning your ballot:

      • Tuesday, November 5 by 7:00 PM: deadline to return your completed ballot

      • You must return your completed ballot by mail. Be sure to mail it in time to get to your county election office no later than 7pm on Tuesday, November 5th! 

  • Assistance and accommodations for voters with Disabilities in Tennessee: 

    • Disabled voters have the right to:

      • Vote without proving your IQ or ability to read or write

      • Vote even if you have a conservator unless a court order has withdrawn this right

      • Ask for help voting without having to explain why you need help

  • In person voting: 

  • Every polling place is required to have at least one accessible voting machine (sometimes called a ballot marking device). Every voter is allowed to use this machine. The poll workers can teach you how to use it.

  • Ways an accessible voting machine can help you vote: 

    • You can use a touch screen or tactile keypad to click through each question and mark your choices. Some accessible machines also allow you to plug in a sip-and-puff device. 

    • You can make the font bigger and change the colors to make the ballot easier to read. 

    • The voting machine also has headphones. The machine can read your ballot out loud to you, so you can listen to the questions.

    • You can go back through your ballot choices and make sure you selected the right ones before printing your ballot and casting your vote. 

  • Voting by mail/absentee: 

    • If you have a disability, are 60 years old or older, or you will be away from home on Election Day, you can vote by mail in Tennessee. This is called absentee voting.

    • Voters with a “print disability” may request an accessible ballot be sent to them electronically or by mail. 

      • “Print disability” means a disability that interferes with your ability to effectively read, write, or use printed materials. This includes blindness, low vision and physical abilities. 

 Resources & additional information for disabled voters: 

  • What if I have questions about voting, need assistance or want to report any barriers I faced with voting? Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

  • Can I vote if I have a disability? Yes! People with disabilities who are 18 or older have the right to vote. Your vote matters and is protected by law to make sure that you can vote independently, accessibly and privately. 

  • Can I vote if I have a guardian? In Tennessee, you cannot vote if you have a guardian. For help understanding or getting back your right to vote, reach out to Disability Rights Tennessee (1-800-342-1660)

Other voting resources: