The Tennessee Health Department’s Office of Vital Records reviews, registers, amends, issues and maintains the original certificates of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occur in Tennessee in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated.

• Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Tennessee Vital Records
  1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
  710 James Robertson Parkway
  Nashville, TN  37243
• Phone: (615) 685-4700 or (866) 233-0740
• Website: Tennessee Office of Vital Records

The Records Management Division (RMD) was established by Tennessee Code Annotated 10-7-303 to assist state agencies in establishing systematic controls for the efficient use and sound preservation of state records. The Division serves as the primary records management agency for the state of Tennessee and provides professional consultative and analytical records management leadership to agencies. This guidance aids in the appropriate development, utilization, disposition, retention, and destruction of records.

The Records Management Division is further directed by the Public Records Commission (PRC) to serve as administrative liaison between state agencies and the PRC; to establish procedural guidelines for paper and electronic records oversight and retention; and to coordinate efforts supporting the state's Paperwork Reduction and Simplification Act of 1976 (TCA 4-25-101).

What is the Records Disposition Authorizations process?

Records Disposition Authorizations (RDAs) are record retention guides state agencies follow to maintain their records properly. The Records Management Division oversees the records management process. The Secretary of State’s office online RDA filing system provides users with an easy way to filter, search, and find RDAs and provides retention and destruction method information. Click here to search all effective RDAs.

State agencies are required by law, T.C.A 10-7-503(a)(2)(B), to have a designated Public Records Request Coordinator. This person is the designated contact for receiving public records requests.  Contact the appropriate agency’s coordinator to request access to that agency’s records.  If you have further questions or need additional assistance, contact: Office of Open Records Counsel

• Phone: (615) 401-7891
• Open.records@cot.tn.gov
• http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/openrecords/

Vital records document significant life events. Vital records include:

• Marriage Certificates
• Divorce Certificates
• Birth Certificates
• Death Certificates

“Public record or records’ or ‘state record or records’ means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files and output, films, sound recordings, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental agency.” T.C.A. § 10-7-301(6)

The test for determining whether a record is public is “whether it was made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental agency.” Griffin v. City of Knoxville, 821 S.W. 2d 921, 924 (Tenn. 1991).

The Secretary of State’s Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker tool allows voters to track the status of their absentee by-mail ballot.

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.

You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or handing it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day is not permitted.

Learn more about voting absentee by-mail.

Find your early voting and Election Day polling place and hours in the GoVoteTN app.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day must bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver's license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by Tennessee state government or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

Learn more about what types of ID are acceptable here or call the Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959.

Yes.  If you cannot afford a copy of the documents required to obtain a free photo ID, you may sign a form stating under oath that you are indigent and have been unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID for voting without paying a fee.

No.  If you already have a valid government-issued photo ID for voting purposes, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will not issue a free photo ID to you.

No, but if you do not have another form of valid photo ID, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will reissue your license with your photo for free upon request.

You will need:

• Proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate), and
• Two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement).
• If your name differs from that on your primary ID, proof of the changed name (such as a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, etc.)

Learn more about the required documents at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Voter Photo ID page.

Visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Driver Service Center Locations page for information about locations and hours, closure advisories, and self-service kiosks and online renewal.

You may obtain a free photo ID to vote from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security at any participating driver service center across the state. You may use the “express service” line at the driver service center to obtain your photo ID to minimize wait times. Visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Voter Photo ID page for more information.

If you don’t bring a photo ID, you will vote a provisional ballot. You will then have two (2) business days after Election Day to return to the election commission office to show a valid photo ID. Upon returning to the election commission office, the voter will sign an affidavit and a copy of the voter’s photo ID will be made to be reviewed by the counting board.

If you are unsure or have questions about your photo ID, contact your county election commission or the Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959.

Yes, as long as it was validly issued by the federal or Tennessee state government and contains the name and photograph of the voter.

A complaint form may be filed with the State Coordinator of Elections office or with the local county election office.

• Complaints must be filed on a Title III HAVA complaint form.  Complaint forms may be found at your local county election office, the State Coordinator of Elections office or online.
   
• All complaints must be in writing, notarized, signed, and sworn to by the complainant.  The complaint may be filed with either the Coordinator of Elections or the local county election office.
   
• Once a formal complaint is filed, the Coordinator of Elections or designee will decide the resolution of the complaint.
   
• A complainant may request a hearing on the record.
   
• The Coordinator of Elections or designee will gather information which may include written responses from the parties.  Once all the information is gathered, the Coordinator of Elections or designee will determine whether or not there is a violation of Title III.
   
• If it is determined that a violation of Title III has occurred, the State shall provide an appropriate remedy in accordance with Title III.
   
• If it is determined that no violation of Title III has occurred, the State shall publish the dismissed complaints of the procedures.
   
• A final determination must be made within 90 days of the complaint being filed.  Only the complainant may agree to extend this period of time.
   
• If a final determination is not made within 90 days and no extension is granted, the complaint shall be resolved within 60 days through alternative dispute resolution.  All previous proceedings, including the record and any correspondence, shall be forwarded to an administrative law judge for alternative dispute resolution.

Title IV of the Help America Vote Act requires each state to establish a state-based administrative complaint procedure.  This procedure allows individuals to file a complaint if any person believes that a violation under Title III of the Help America Vote Act has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur.

A violation of Title III would include issues dealing with the following HAVA sections:

• voting system standards
• provisional voting
• voter information requirements
• statewide voter registration database and
• accessibility for persons with disabilities

If your complaint does not fall within one of the above categories, you may still file a complaint with your local county election office, the State Coordinator of Elections office or online using a general complaint form.