No. Only qualified 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations that have applied and been approved are allowed to hold a raffle. Holding a raffle would be a violation of law and subject to criminal prosecution.

A trademark is any word, name, symbol, device or combination thereof used by a person to identify goods made or sold and to distinguish them from the goods made or sold by another person.  In general, you use a trademark to identify a product or goods that are sold (examples include soft drinks, automobiles, magazines and food).

If the Secretary of State is notified of an unapproved event, the Division will notify the local district attorney general. Conducting an unapproved game of chance may be a violation of the criminal gaming statute, and local law enforcement has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible for the event.

Charitable Solicitations and Gaming Rules

A raffle is a game of chance in which a participant is required to purchase a ticket for a chance to win a prize, with the winner to be determined by random drawing.

Yes. The individuals who are not allowed to purchase tickets include:

• Any member of the board of directors of a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organization authorized by the general assembly to operate an annual event for such organization.
• Any officer or employee of a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organization authorized by the general assembly to operate an annual event for such organization.
• Any immediate family member residing in the same household as the board of directors or an officer/employee of the organization. (The Charitable Gaming Law defines immediate family as spouse, child, step-child, brother, sister, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, parent or grandparent)
• Any member of the general assembly during such member's term of office as a member of the general assembly.
• The Secretary of State or any employee of the Secretary during the Secretary's term of office and such employee's term of employment with the Secretary.
• Any vendors including employees, agents, or subcontractors (also includes immediate family members of the same household) who provide printing services, telephone services, and any records, devices, or other gaming-related supplies and those who provide prizes for the authorized annual gaming event.

Yes. A financial report is due 90 days after the annual event date stated in your application. If gross revenue from an event exceeds $75,000 an audited financial statement is also required. Also, organizations must return at least 25% of its gross proceeds of the event back to its stated charitable purpose or program.

Raffles, reverse raffles, cakewalks, cake wheels, and bingo.

Please contact the district attorney for the county in which you believe the game of chance is taking place or contact Charitable Solicitations at (615) 741-2555 and the Division will notify the appropriate authorities.

Organizations with an approved gaming event can begin selling tickets 120 days before the event.

No. If someone is required to pay for a chance to win a prize, it is considered a raffle. Only qualified and approved 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) organizations may hold a raffle. It does not matter that the payment is called a “donation.”

An organization that fails to submit the report by 90 days will be responsible for a $10.00 per month late fee. If a report is not filed at all, action may be taken against the organization. Failure to timely file in 2 of 3 consecutive gaming event periods could result in disqualification from conducting future events.

To renew a trademark or service mark use the Application for Renewal of Trademark or Service Mark.

The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 governs trademark registration in Tennessee.  The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 can be found in the Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 47-25-501 through 47-25-518.

The nonprofit must file a notice with the Division stating the reason less than 25% was returned to its charitable purpose or program. If this happens in two (2) consecutive years, the nonprofit will be disqualified from applying or holding future gaming events for a period of five (5) years.

Yes, however each participating organization must file an application and each pay the required fee. All applicants must qualify.  If one organization fails to qualify, then participants will be rejected.

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.

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 the applicant is using the mark. For example, “business cards”, “letterhead”, “flyers”, “signs”, “labels”, “newspaper advertisements”, “billboards”, “bus benches”, “television advertisements”, “websites”.

The reasons for rejection include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• An incomplete form is submitted.  All blanks must be filled in for both registration and renewal applications.
• An acceptable specimen is not provided.  A specimen is required for both registration and renewal applications.
• No signature.
• Incomplete dates.  Dates must include month, day and year.
• The application is completed in pencil.  All registration and renewal applications must be typewritten or completed in ink.
• Failure to include the $20.00 per classification filing fee.
• Failure to include the type of goods and/or services to be provided.
• Failure to include the mode or manner of use.
• Failure to include a classification in the application.
• A new owner is listed in a renewal application.

A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that a service mark is used by a person to identify services rendered or offered and to distinguish them from the services rendered or offered by another person.  The services must be provided to the public or any party other than the applicant.  In general, you use a service mark to identify services that are offered or sold (examples include restaurant, retail business and computer services).

If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, apply by filling out an application form. Poll workers are appointed locally based on need.

A specimen is an actual example of the use of the mark in commerce.  It is the means by which the public would view your mark and be aware of the specific goods or services offered.

For trademarks, examples of acceptable specimens are tags or labels that are attached to the goods, containers for the goods, displays associated with the goods, or photographs of the goods showing use of the mark of the goods themselves. Invoices, announcements, order forms, bills of lading, leaflets, brochures, catalogs, publicity release, letterhead and business cards may be acceptable specimens for trademarks if they sufficiently demonstrate that the mark is being used with the goods. If it is impractical to send the actual specimens because of its size, photographs or other acceptable reproductions that show the mark on the goods, or packaging for the goods, must be furnished.

For services marks, examples of acceptable specimens are signs, brochures about the services, advertisements for the services, business cards or stationary showing the mark in connection with the services, or photographs that show the mark either as it is used in the rendering or advertising of the services. The specimen must either show the mark and include some clear reference to the type of services rendered under the  mark in some form of advertising, or show the mark as it is used in the rendering of the service (for example, on a store front or the side of a delivery truck).

The specimen should not be larger than 8 ½ inches by 11 inches and should be flat. Small specimens, such as tags or labels, must be taped or pasted to a sheet of paper and labeled “SPECIMEN”.

Poker games and/or tournaments, pull-tabs, punchboards, video lottery games, instant and online lottery games, keno, and games of chance associated with casinos including, but not limited to slot machines, roulette wheels, and the like. Events such as bingo or “casino nights” that are purely recreational in nature and in which participants are not required to pay to participate with the promise of a prize, jackpot, or “winner-takes-all” would not fall into this category.

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.

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.

Enter a complete and accurate description of the overall mark. If the mark contains both words and a design element, the description must include both. If a mark is in color, you must list the portions of the mark that are in color and the corresponding color for each. If the description is not accurate, either incomplete or includes words, letters, numbers, or other elements not actually appearing in the mark image, the applicant will be required to amend the description of the mark.

Trademark protection lasts for five years from the date of filing.  Trademarks can be renewed for subsequent five year intervals beginning from six months prior to expiration until the day of expiration.

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.

The filing fee for the application is $20.00 per Class entered in number 10 of the application.  If there is only one (1) class indicated the fee is $20.00. If there are two (2) classes indicated, the fee is $40.00, etc.

 Make check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the Tennessee Secretary of State.  Cash is only accepted for walk-in filings.

Pursuant to T.C.A. § 47-25-507, a registered mark is assignable with the good will of the business in which the mark is used, or with that part of the good will of the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the mark. An assignment must be made by “instruments in writing duly executed.” An assignment must include within the assignment instrument itself a provision expressly indicating the transfer of “good will” to the assignee.

A separate assignment instrument and application for assignment of trademark or service mark must be submitted for each registered mark; if a mark is registered in more than one class, only one assignment instrument and application need be submitted. A photocopy of the executed assignment instrument may be submitted in lieu of the original assignment instrument if it is certified by any of the parties thereto, or their successors, to be a true and correct copy of the original.

To assign a registered trademark or service mark use the Application for Assignment of Trademark or Service Mark.

To access information on trademarks, use the Trademark/Servicemark Search. This database reflects active trademarks/servicemarks on file with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Both 'Active' and 'Cancelled' marks are searchable.

Trademark & Service Mark Classes Guide

Yes. State employees may become poll workers.

Raffles and games of chance are considered gambling, which is prohibited in Tennessee. However, certain charitable organizations are allowed to apply to have one raffle, reverse raffle, cakewalk or cakewheel each year if that event is conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Tennessee Charitable Gaming Implementation Law.

The Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming maintains a list of approved events on its website at Gaming Events.

The Secretary of State does not play any role in regulating the use of trademarks or in prosecuting their misuse.  The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 designates the Department of State as the filing agency for trademarks.  The Department’s role is strictly ministerial.  If you have any questions about the “protection” of a mark, infringement upon your mark, or the application of filing requirements to your specific situation, you should consult an attorney or other professional.

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.