Non-US Citizens Not Eligible to Vote In Tennessee Elections
Q: Can non-U.S. citizens vote in Tennessee elections?
A: No. It is a felonyfor a non-US citizen to vote in a local, state, or federal race in Tennessee.
Q: What is the state’s process for reviewing voter rolls to ensure accuracy?
A: Under legislation passed in 2011, the Division of Elections verifies citizenship through a cross reference of our entire voter rolls with the information provided by the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to identify non-U.S. Citizens.
Q: What should Tennesseans do if they would like to report specific instances of suspected voter fraud?
A: If you would like to report specific instances of suspected voter fraud, contact our Official Election Hotline at 1.877.850.4959.
What are the hours of work?
Normally poll workers report to work one hour before polls open and leave one hour after the poll closes. Check with your county election commission for more information.
What are the qualifications to be a poll worker?
To be a poll worker, a person must:
Be at least 16 years old
Be a registered voter in the county if 18 or older
Be able to read and write in the English language
Not be supervised by a county or municipal elected official on the ballot
Not be a candidate or close relative of a candidate. Close relatives are defined as the spouse, parent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of a candidate on the ballot or a write-in candidate
Government Employees Who Can Serve as Poll Worker:
All City, County and Metro employees (unless working directly under the supervision of an elected official on the ballot)
State of Tennessee employees
Federal employees – consult your Human Resources Department to ensure eligibility
A poll worker shall also:
Have strong clerical skills
Be able to solve problems
Be an effective communicator
How do I become a poll worker?
If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, apply by filling out an application form. Poll workers are appointed locally based on need.
What are the training requirements for poll workers?
County Election Commissions are required by state law to provide training. This training provides all the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful poll worker.
How do I get the books?
All special library materials--books, magazines and playback equipment--are circulated through the mail postage free. Patrons must borrow books each year to remain eligible for the service.
What is the GoVoteTN app?
The GoVoteTN app allows Tennesseans the opportunity to view their sample ballot, locate their polling location and learn about their district.
Highlights of the app include:
Early voting and Election Day polling locations and hours of operation
Candidate list for upcoming election
Ability to mark sample ballots for upcoming election
Navigation to early voting and Election Day polling locations
County election commission information
Access online election results through the application
How do I start the service?
You must first complete an application for service and send it to the Tennessee library. All states provide the service for their residents.
Are poll workers paid or volunteers?
Poll workers are compensated for working at polling places at a rate determined by the county election commission and are also compensated for attending any required training sessions. Poll workers may also choose to volunteer their services, but most are paid.
How do I know what titles are available?
Bimonthly magazines will tell you about newly released books and related library services: Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review. You may also order general catalogs. You can always call the library to ask about authors and titles. The National Library Service catalog is searchable online.
Where will I be assigned?
Every effort is made to assign a poll workers to their neighborhood voting site. However, poll workers must be willing to be flexible and consider assignments at other sites in the county based on need.
How do I play the talking books?
Special playback equipment is loaned to patrons who use the library service. Books and magazines in the TLABM collection are recorded at a slower speed than conventional recordings and the books require special players. Players are mailed to patrons postage free. The library repairs and replaces equipment as necessary. For patrons who wish to purchase their own equipment, a vendor list is available.
May state employees become poll workers?
Yes. State employees may become poll workers.
What is provided?
The library service loans recorded, large print and braille books and magazines, music scores in large print and braille and special playback equipment. The TLABM book collection of over 50,000 titles includes popular fiction and nonfiction, best sellers, classics, history, biographies, religious literature, children's books and books in foreign language. There are over 70 popular magazines available. Go to Available Materials to find out more.
What are the responsibilities of a poll worker?
Poll workers conduct assigned duties at a polling site during early voting and on Election Day. Duties can include processing voters, explaining how to mark a ballot, use the voting equipment, or counting votes. Other positions at a polling place include a greeter who assists with answering questions and directing voters to the voting area.