FAQ
Helpful Answers to Common Questions About Tennessee Politics & Elections
What is the Tennessee General Assembly?
The Tennessee General Assembly consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate. There are 99 State Representatives and 33 State Senators.
Each State Representative represents roughly 70,000 residents per district, and each state senator represents between 200,000 and 225,000 residents per district.
State Representative seats are up for election every two years.
State Senators are up for reelection every four years. Senators with even-numbered districts are elected the same year as a Presidential election, and odd-numbered districts are elected in the years between a Presidential election, often called a “midterm” year.
State Representatives and Senators are elected by popular vote from within their districts. This means that whoever gets the most votes in the general election wins the seat. Neither State Representatives nor Senators have term limits, so they can serve in office as many times as they can be elected.
Follow this link for more information about the role of the legislature in Tennessee.
What do State Senators and State Representatives in Tennessee actually do?
State Representatives and Senators are elected by their districts to write the laws that govern our state. Laws passed by the General Assembly almost always apply to the entire state. Each of these elected officials is responsible for representing their district’s interests when they write and vote on laws.
State Representatives and State Senators meet in Nashville every year from January to mid-April. During this time, they write and pass laws. The rest of the year, they live and work in their districts. More information about the function of the General Assembly can be found here.
How do I know who my Tennessee State Representatives and Senators are, and how can I find my assigned district(s)?
Follow this link to the Tennessee General Assembly website. You can put in your home address to see who your elected officials are in both the House and the Senate and learn your district number.
You can use our website to learn more about your State Representative and State Senator, including their most recent election results, links to their social media and campaign websites, and ways to contact them.
Where can I learn more about my Tennessee House and Senate district?
Follow this link to the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, which has created a community profile for each of the 99 House and 33 Senate Districts. The profiles contain information about each district’s population, housing, economy, and jobs.
What about Tennessee’s Governor - when is that person elected, and how long can they serve?
Tennessee’s Governor is elected by popular vote every four years in what are referred to as “midterm” years — the years between Presidential elections, e.g., 2018, 2022, 2026, etc.
Tennessee’s Governor is subject to term limits — a person can only serve as the state’s Governor for two consecutive four-year terms. However, after spending four years out of office, a person would be eligible to run for governor again, even after serving two consecutive four-year terms.
Governor Bill Lee, is currently serving his second consecutive term and will not be eligible for reelection in 2026. This link provides more information about the roles and responsibilities of Tennessee’s governor.
In addition to having a State Senator, a State Representative, and the Governor, who represents me at the Federal level?
Tennessee is divided into nine Congressional Districts. Each of these nine Districts elects a representative to send to Washington, D.C. to serve in the House of Representatives. Each member of the House of Representatives represents about 760,000 citizens from within their Congressional district. Each of these seats is up every two years.
In addition to showing you who your State Representative and State Senator are, this link on the Tennessee General Assembly website allows you to input your address to learn which one of these nine members of Congress represents you. It is important to check the box next to “Congress” to show your Congressional Representative. More information about the role of federal representatives can be found here.
Additionally, two United States Senators represent the entire state of Tennessee. Each state in the country has only two U.S. Senators. In Tennessee, our current senators are Marsha Blackburn (R) and Bill Hagerty (R). Ms. Blackburn is up for reelection this year. Mr. Hagerty’s seat is up for reelection in 2026. More information about the role of U.S. Senators can be found here.
Neither our Congressional Representatives nor our United States Senators are subject to term limits. This means that, like our State Representatives and State Senators, they can serve for as long as they are reelected.
What about local elected officials? What do they do, and how are they different from my State and Federal Representatives?
Tennessee’s counties and cities have various officials elected to represent the interests of the community on a local level. This includes city and county commissions, city and county mayors, as well as school boards.
Each of Tennessee’s 95 counties has an election commission, and each election commission website offers a wealth of information, including which local offices are up for election and when, requirements to run for office, and election day polling locations. Follow this link to find your county election commission office and learn more about your local officials.
Importantly, elections for local officials occur at various times throughout the year, including in both the August and November elections. It is critically important to vote in every election offered in your community, because every election impacts you — whether it’s state, federal, or local. Use your election commission website as a tool to see who’s up for election and when and where to go to cast your ballot.
Who can run to be a State Representative or State Senator in Tennessee?
Before a person can run for a seat in the State’s House of Representatives, they must be 21 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee for at least 3 years, a resident of the county they seek to represent for 1 year, and a qualified voter.
Before a person can run for a seat in the State Senate, they must be 30 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee for at least 3 years, a resident of the county they seek to represent for 1 year, and a qualified voter.
Information on who can run for office as a Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives can be found here. Information on who can run for office as a United States Senator can be found here.
Are there rules about who can run as a Republican and who can run as a Democrat in Tennessee?
Yes. In addition to the requirements set by the state, each political party has its own rules regarding who can run as a member of their party.
Follow this link for more information about the Democratic party’s rules regarding who may run, and this link for more information about the Republican party’s rules regarding who may run.
What is a primary election, and how is it different from the general election?
If two or more people decide to run for the same office and both are from the same political party, there is a vote to see which one of them will become their party’s official nominee. This is the party’s primary election.
Whoever wins their party’s primary election advances to the general election, where they will face the candidate from the other party, if there is one.
The general election is when the candidates from different parties compete to decide who will win and actually assume office.
When does the primary election and general election take place?
The primary election will be held on August 1, 2024.
The general election will be held on November 5, 2024.
When is the last day to register to vote for the primary election, and how do I register?
The last day to register to vote before the primary election is July 2, 2024. You can register to vote online with the Tennessee Secretary of State by following this link.
You can also contact your local election commission for ways to register in person. This link will help you find your local commission.
Once you register to vote, a voter registration card will be mailed to you. The card will show the polling place where you can cast your ballot on election day, both for the primary and the general elections. However, if you wish to vote early, you can vote at any number of locations during the early voting period. Also, you do not need to bring your voter registration card with you when you vote, but you do need a valid photo ID. This link lists all forms of acceptable, valid identification.
Do I have to register as a Republican or Democrat in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, you register to vote as a general matter. No Tennessee voter is considered a “registered Republican” or a “registered Democrat.”
Which party’s primary election can I vote in?
Under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 2-7-115(b) and (c), to vote in a party’s primary election, a person must be a “bona fide member of and affiliated with” that party or “declare allegiance” to the party. However, the law doesn’t define what it means to be a “bona fide member” or how to “declare allegiance.”
Thus, you are legally permitted to vote in the primary for the party that you feel you are a bona fide member of at the time of the election. This decision is based on your own personal beliefs and considerations, and you are not legally required to maintain the same party affiliation indefinitely.
If I vote in one party’s primary this year, can I vote in a different primary in the future?
Yes. You are legally permitted to vote in the primary for the party that you feel you are a bona fide member of at the time of the election. Your decision is based on your own personal beliefs and considerations, and you are not legally required to maintain the same party affiliation indefinitely.
If I vote in the Democratic primary in August, do I have to vote for a Democrat in November? Or if I vote in the Republican primary in August, do I have to vote for a Republican in November?
No. If you voted in the Democratic primary in August, you do not have to vote for a Democrat in November. Likewise, if you voted in the Republican primary in August, you do not have to vote for a Republican in November.
In fact, while some people choose to vote only for candidates of a certain party — sometimes referred to as “voting on party lines” — other people vote for Republicans and Democrats up and down the ballot. For example, some folks may choose to vote for a Democrat for President, a Republican for their State Representative, and a Democrat for their Stat Senator.
There is no rule or regulation on whom you can vote for or how you must vote.
Will my vote be made public?
Whom you vote for will never be made public. However, the fact that you do or don’t vote and which party’s primary elections you choose to vote in are matters of public record.
Can I vote early in a primary election?
Yes. Early voting for the primary elections runs from July 12, 2024 – July 27, 2024.
When you vote early in the primary election, you can go to any number of polling locations. Follow this link to put in your address, and a list of polling locations in your community will be provided, along with their hours.
What do I need to bring with me to vote?
This link outlines the acceptable forms of valid identification you must bring when you vote.
Where do I go to vote in a primary election if I do not vote early?
If you choose not to vote early and instead vote on August 1st, you will need to vote at your assigned polling location. The location should be on your voter registration card, but you can also follow this link, type in your address, and search for your election-day polling place and its hours.
Can I mail in my ballot for a primary election?
Yes, if you qualify for an absentee ballot, you may mail in your vote for both the primary and the general elections.
To see whether you qualify, follow this link.
If I qualify, how do I request a mail-in ballot?
If you qualify to mail in your ballot, you must request one from your local election office. Use this link to find your election office, then visit their website to locate the form you must fill out to request your mail-in ballot.
You can fill out the form online, but you must print it out and physically sign it — an electronic signature is insufficient.
You can return the form, with your signature either by mail, fax, or by scanning it and emailing it to the election commission office.
Regardless of how you submit the form requesting your absentee ballot — either by mail, fax, or email — the request for your absentee ballot must be received by the election commission office no later than July 25, 2024.
The actual ballot will then be mailed to you directly.
Once you receive the ballot, you must fill it out.
You then must return the absentee ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx or UPS) to the election commission. Unlike the form requesting the ballot, the actual ballot cannot be faxed or emailed back to the office. The ballot must be sent by mail.
Also, it is your responsibility to mail your ballot in enough time for the county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day — 7:00 p.m. on August 1, 2024. If your ballot is received after 7:00 pm on Election Day, it will not be counted.
If I vote in the August election this year, do I need to vote again in November?
Yes. The August primary election is different from the general election in November. Depending on where you live, elections in August may include party primaries, i.e. nominations for candidates, but they will always include elections for various local officials.
It is critical that you show up and engage in BOTH the August and November elections if you want your voice to be heard by those who represent you.