What happens to mail sent to the substitute address?
The Safe at Home Program will receive all first class and certified mail sent to the substitute address and then forward that mail to the participant at their designated mailing address.
What if I do not receive or ruin my ballot and can no longer use it?
You may request an absentee by-mail ballot no earlier than ninety (90) days before the election and no later than seven (7) days before the election. To be processed for the next election, the application must be received by the election commission no later than seven (7) days before the election.
Collection Development Policy and Reconsideration of Materials Form
The internet-based READS service is hosted by the OverDrive® digital content platform. OverDrive® provides a user-friendly interface and an app, Libby, that features private user accounts, several browsing and searching methods for users, a holds feature, email availability notification, and a help feature. The READS Libby app also has filtering features that allow parents or guardians to work with their children to filter titles by age category. The vendor for READS is determined every five years through a Request for Proposal (RFP) that is conducted by Library & Archives.
What is the deadline to return my ballot so it can be counted?
You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
Can I hand deliver my ballot to the election office?
No. You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.).
Is additional information required to vote absentee by-mail if I am a first-time voter who registered to vote by-mail?
Unless you are on the permanent absentee voting register, enrolled in the Safe at Home program, or you have previously voted in the county of registration, you must appear in-person to vote in the first election after you have registered by-mail or online at GoVoteTN.gov.
Where can I get a Student Edition of the Tennessee Blue Book?
The Office of the Secretary of State has developed an application form that must be used to apply for the program, which captures all required information and must be completed with the assistance of a Certified Application Assistant, who must also sign the application. The application must be submitted to the Safe at Home Program by a certified application assistant.
How can I make a suggestion for books to be included in READS?
Anyone interested in offering suggestions for titles to be included in READS, please email Reads.Support@tn.gov. Such requests will be reviewed in accordance with the entire READS Collection Development Policy as well as available funding.
Do I qualify for the permanent absentee list?
You will receive an application for ballot for each election if your licensed physician signs a statement stating that, in their judgment, you are medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed not less than seven (7) days before the election and signed under the penalty of perjury.
Are participants able to be selected for jury duty?
Program Participants are not subject to selection for state or municipal jury duty. T.C.A. § 40-38-607.
Program participants should not appear on state or municipal jury selection lists. If a program participant is selected for jury service, the summoning court should excuse the program participant.
If a program participant receives a jury summons for either state or municipal jury duty, the Participant must notify the summoning court of the participant's exempt status and provide a copy of the Participant's Certificate of Program Participation, if requested.
Participants may not fail to respond to a jury summons.
Where can I find a Certified Application Assistant?
Certified Application Assistants work with various state and local agencies and/or nonprofit agencies that provide counseling and shelter services to victims of domestic abuse and other crimes. At list of Certified Application Assistants can be found here. Safe at Home is most effective as part of an overall safety plan. Additional information regarding safety plans can be found here.
How often is the Tennessee Blue Book published?
The Tennessee Blue Book is published every two years. The 2021–2022 Tennessee Blue Book will be released in Spring 2022.
Will I have to pay for a Tennessee Blue Book?
No, Tennessee Blue Books are free to Tennessee residents
I am a teacher, how can I get Tennessee Blue Books for my students?
The Tennessee Blue Book is a great resource for teachers and students alike.
Digital versions of the Tennessee Blue Book can be found here.
There is also a Student Edition site targeted towards Tennessee history www.tnsoshistory.com/
How can I incorporate the Tennessee Blue Book in my lesson plan?
Lesson plans are available here and are broken down by grade level.
Yes. Go to Tennessee’s voter lookup page on the Division of Elections homepage. Enter your information and you will be able to track when the ballot was received by the local county election commission office. If you need assistance, contact your local county election commission office.
How can I receive a Tennessee Blue Book if I live in a different state?
Tennessee Blue Books are subject to availability to out-of-state residents and may not be readily available upon initial release.
Please note if you live out-of-state and fill out a request form online, your request may be delayed to ensure availability to Tennessee citizens. Since the Tennessee Blue Book is released in the spring, we recommend waiting until the end of the year to inquire about availability.
Who is not eligible to participate in the program?
Any person who is required by law to be registered under any of the following is not eligible to participate in the program:
Tennessee Sexual Offender and Violent Sexual Offender Registration Verification and Tracking Act of 2004, compiled at Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2;
Tennessee Animal Abuser Registration Act, compiled at Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 1
Registry of persons who have abused, neglected, or misappropriated the property of vulnerable individuals, compiled at Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 10; or,
Drug offender registry under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-436.
When Can the Substitute Address be Used?
Whenever a program participant is required by law to swear to or affirm the participant’s address, the participant may use the participant’s substitute address. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
Wherever a program participant is required by law to establish residency, the participant may use the participant’s substitute address. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
The substitute address may be used for motor vehicle records and may be printed on a drivers license. T.C.A. § 40-38-602.
The substitute address may also be used as your official mailing address for all public utilities and public utility service providers. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
Participants may also request that private entities use the substitute address, although they are not required to do so.