The State of Tennessee does not assign numbers to Notary Commissions.
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.
A Notary is a position created by state law allowing individuals, as state public officials, to:
Acknowledge signatures upon personal knowledge or satisfactory proof
Administer oaths
Record and/or transcribe depositions
Confirm the authenticity of signatures on affidavits.
What is the liability of a notary?
Tennessee statutes provide that if a notary who takes acknowledgment of a deed or other instrument fails or refuses to comply with and discharge the duties required of a notary, he or she shall forfeit and pay the sum of $100 for the use of the county of the notary’s residence and shall, moreover, be liable to the party injured for all damages, including costs, the party may sustain by the notary’s failure or refusal to discharge the statutory duties. T.C.A. § 66-22-113. Such action can be based on the negligence or misconduct of the notary. Other penalties for misconduct are discussed elsewhere in this publication. Liability is not limited to the amount of the statutorily mandated bond. Professional liability insurance may be available for a notary public.
What if I move out of Tennessee?
If a notary moves out of the State of Tennessee and has neither a residence nor a principal place of business, then the notary is no longer qualified to act as a Tennessee notary public and must surrender his or her commission and stamp to the county clerk's office. T.C.A. § 8-16-110
What are the notary statutes?
T.C.A. § 8-16-101 and T.C.A. § 8-18-101
Can I complete the online voter registration application on an iPad, tablet or smartphone?
Yes. The system is optimized to work on mobile devices.
What fee can a notary charge for their services?
According to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201, “Notaries public are entitled to demand and receive reasonable fees and compensation for the notaries public's services.”
Does the “well-bound book” need to be a specific format?
The Attorney General stated that the notary is not required to keep the record in a particular type of “well bound book,” but that the notary may keep the information in another recorded format, as long as certain standards are met, as set forth fully in the opinion. This Attorney General’s opinion is available here: Attorney General Opinion No. 14-89
What is consider satisfactory evidence?
'Satisfactory evidence' means the absence of any information, evidence, or other circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the person making the acknowledgment is not the individual such person claims to be and any one (1) of the following:
The oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally known to the officer that the person making the acknowledgment is personally known to the witness;
Reasonable reliance on the presentation to the officer of any one of the following, if the document is current or has been issued within five (f) years;
An identification card or driver's license issued by the department of safety; or
A passport issued by the United States department of state; or
Reasonable reliance on the presentation of any one (1) of the following, if the document is current or has been issued within five (5) years and contains a photograph and description of the person named on it, is signed by the person, bears a serial or other identifying number, and in the event that the document is a passport, has been stamped by the United States immigration and naturalization service:
A passport issued by a foreign government;
A driver's license issued by a state other than Tennessee;
An identification card issued by a state other than Tennessee; or
An identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States. T.C.A. § 66-22-106
What if I move out of the county of election?
If a notary moves his or her residence or principal place of business out of the county from which he or she was elected to another county in Tennessee, the notary must notify the county clerk in the county from which the notary was elected and submit an address change form to the county clerk. T.C.A. § 8-16-109
Should I have my expiration date added to my notary stamp?
Yes, it is optional and not required by law.
What are the requirements of a notary signing agent?
A Notary Signing Agent or a Loan Signing Agent is a Traditional Notary who has special training to handle loan document signings. The State of Tennessee does not have any additional requirements or guidelines for Notary Signing Agents or Loan Signing Agents.
Where do I find my commission number?
The State of Tennessee does not assign commission numbers, if the form requires an entry enter N/A for Not Applicable.
What are the requirements for Notary Seals?
State law requires that all notaries use an official seal prescribed and designed by the Secretary of State. The notary must purchase the official seal at his or her own expense. At the notary’s request, the county clerk may obtain an official seal for the notary, and the county clerk may charge a fee for this service not to exceed 20 percent of the cost of the seal. T.C.A. § 8-16-114.
The current design prescribed by the Secretary of State is a circular seal with the notary’s name (as it appears on the commission) printed at the top, the county of election printed at the bottom, and the words “State of Tennessee Notary Public” or “Tennessee Notary Public” printed in the center.
The seal may be imprinted by a rubber or other type stamp (not an impression seal), and the stamp must be imprinted in some color, not black or yellow, that is clearly legible and appears black when copied on a non-color copier. Notaries may continue to use their impression seals until the expiration of their term. The use of an embossed seal after May 12, 2003, does not render an acknowledgment defective. T.C.A. § 8-16-114.
The seal must be surrendered to the county legislative body (through the county clerk) upon expiration of the notary’s term of office or resignation, and the personal representative must surrender the seal in the event of the death of the notary. T.C.A. § 8-16-114.
How do I renew a Notary Commission?
The renewal process for a notary is the same process as obtaining your original commission.
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.
Are there restrictions on what my stamp can be imprinted in?
According to T.C.A. § 8-16-114, the stamp must be imprinted in some color, not black or yellow, that is clearly legible and appears black when copied on a non-color copier.
When I notarize a document, what information should I include in my well-bound book?
the date of the acknowledgment, affidavit,or other transaction;
The name of the person whose signature is being notarized;
To whom the instrument is being executed;
A description, including the date of the instrument;
Whether the person whose signature was notarized was a personal acquaintance or what proof was shown prior to notarizing the signature
What fee, if any, was received.
What do I need to do if I do not want to renew my notary commission?
The seal must be surrendered to the county clerk upon the expiration of the notary's term of office or resignation, and the personal representative must surrender the seal in the event of the death of the notary. T.C.A. § 8-16-114
What do I need to do if I do not want to renew my notary commission?
The seal must be surrendered to the county clerk upon the expiration of the notary's term of office or resignation, and the personal representative must surrender the seal in the event of the death of a notary. T.C.A. § 8-16-114
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.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a Notary?
A Notary has the power to administer oaths and take depositions, affidavits, and acknowledgments. A Notary’s powers and duties can be exercised in all counties in the State of Tennessee.
Can a notary take an acknowledgment or affidavit of a nonresident of the State of Tennessee?
Yes, if that person is physically present in the state.
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.
I moved from a different state. Am I allowed to register to vote in Tennessee?
Yes. Learn more about the qualifications to register here.
I am interested in serving on a board, how can I get information?
We think it’s great you are interested in serving on one of Tennessee’s many boards and commissions!
To inquire about serving on a specific board, please reach out to the appointing authority of that board.
If you are unsure of the appointing authority, you can search our Boards and Commissions page here. Some boards have multiple appointing authorities, by clicking on a specific member’s name, you can see who is responsible for appointing a person to that particular position.
How do I check on the status of my notary commission?
You can check with your county clerk's office to see if the request has been submitted to our office. You can also go to the Notary Search page and search for your information to check the status of your commission at https://tnbear.tn.gov/Notary/notary
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.
Can I vote online?
No. You can vote in person during early voting or on Election Day, or you can absentee vote by mail if you meet certain requirements.
Where do homeless persons register to vote?
In order to register to vote in Tennessee, a person does not have to live in a building. Instead, a person who finds himself or herself homeless must describe where the person usually stays or returns to when absent. This location may be the address of a shelter where the person stays or frequents, or it may be the description of a street corner where the person may often rest. A physical description of the location must be given so that the election commission knows in which voting precinct to place the person. T.C.A. 2-2-122.
The election commission must mail voter registration cards to people who register to vote by mail. Therefore, if a homeless person tries to register to vote by mail using an address where the person does not get the mail, the person will have to give a mailing address where he or she can receive mail. For example, a homeless voter may be able to use a shelter as a mailing address or the address of a family member or friend who agrees to receive the mail. Another option is to use General Delivery as a mailing address. However, please note that absentee ballot materials may not be mailed to “general delivery.” T.C.A. 2-2-115 and T.C.A. 2-6-202.
If the voter registration card is returned as undeliverable to the election commission, the voter will be mailed a confirmation notice and placed on inactive status. T.C.A. 2-2-115.
In addition, like all registered voters, a homeless person should let the county election commission know when there are any changes to the mailing address or address where the person is registered to vote.
Can a notary perform marriages?
Yes, Public Chapter No. 255 of the 112th General Assembly changes the language allowing notary publics to perform marriages. There are no additional provisions to regulate how Notaries perform marriages, but they must follow the rules required of all officiants. Effective April 28, 2021.