Help participants change their identities or relocate.
Remove or delete existing public records.
Offer legal advice.
Relieve participants of their legal or financial responsibilities.
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 will I need to register to vote online?
You need an ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. We need your signature on file there to sign your application.
If you do not know your Department of Safety and Homeland Security ID number, do not worry. We will use the other information you enter to download your signature.
Is the deadline for online voter registration the same as the deadline for registering by other means?
Yes. Normally, you must register at least 30 days before Election Day. You can check upcoming deadlines on the election calendar.
Will online voter registration update my name or address with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security?
No. Learn more about updating your record with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security here.
How do I sign the online voter registration application?
We will use your signature from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
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.
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 complete the online voter registration application on an iPad, tablet or smartphone?
Yes. The system is optimized to work on mobile devices.
How do I change my business address?
You can file form SS-4800 to change the mailing address by mail or in person. A change in Registered Agent or principal address requires filing Articles of Amendment and paying the statutory $20 filing fee. Forms can be found on our the Forms & Fees page for mail and in person filings.
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.
I got married and changed my last name. Do I need to reregister under my new name?
You do not have to re-register, but please go ahead and update your existing registration. Updating your name now keeps the rolls accurate and reduces the amount of paperwork you will have to fill out when you go vote.
Under what legal authority does the Secretary of State accept service of process?
Service of Process is issued under the following statutes:
Tennessee’s Long-Arm Statutes, Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) Title 20, Chapter 2, Part 2.
The Tennessee Business Corporation Act, T.C.A. Title 48, Chapters 11-27
Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act, T.C.A. Title 48, Chapters 51-68
Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act ,T.C.A. Title 48,Chapters 201-248
The Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, T.C.A. Title 48, Chapter 249
The Tennessee Revised Uniform Partnership Act, T.C.A. Title 61, Chapter 1
The Hague Convention is preprinted as an annotation to Rule 4, 28 U.S.C.A., Fed. R. Civ. P., Rules 1011, (1992) (Annotation to Rule 4).
Can I update my voter registration information through the online voter registration application?
Yes, you can use the system to update your name or address.
How do I apply?
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 many summonses do the Division of Business Services process annually?
The Division of Business Services processes over 13,800 summonses annually.
Can Non-resident Property Owners Register to Vote?
Otherwise qualified voters who own real property within a municipality in which they do not live may register to vote if the municipal charter extends the right to vote to non-resident property owners. Non-resident property owners must provide proof of property ownership at the time of registration. Consult local election commission offices for further information or the city attorney of the municipality in which property is owned. T.C.A. 2-2-107.
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.
I moved from a different state. Am I allowed to register to vote in Tennessee?
Yes. Learn more about the qualifications to register here.
Will I be notified if my online voter registration has been received and is accepted?
Yes. Your county election commission will mail you a voter registration card when they have accepted your application. This can take up to three weeks.
What is an Administrative Dissolution?
An Administrative dissolution occurs for the following reasons:
Failure to file an annual report
Being without a registered agent
A foreign entity fails to maintain its assumed name due to a name conflict