The voting map in Tennessee is very different after redistricting, and that means upcoming elections in the state are shaping up to be a battle for power.
Early voting begins this week (July 17), followed by Election Day on Aug. 6, and WPLN has a guide for what you need to know to vote, what you should take with you to the polls and how to make sure you’re eligible.
Continuing coverage: Elections 2026
Early voting: when and where
Early voting runs July 17 to Aug. 1 for federal and state primaries, as well as Oak Hill municipal elections.
On the ballot are primaries for one U.S. Senate seat and all nine U.S. House seats. State elections this time include governor, Tennessee Senate odd-numbered districts, Tennessee House and state executive committees. There are also a few general elections for vacant state judicial offices and some county offices.
You can find early voting sites for Davidson County here. There are 15 locations, and times vary.
The Tennessee Secretary of State web site has candidate lists for all state and federal elections. You can also find a list of candidates for Davidson County only, if that’s where you’re registered to vote. Also, residents of Oak Hill will vote on candidates for its Board of Commissioners.
On Election Day, polls are open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What do I need to vote?
If you’re registered, all you need to vote is a federal or state ID, like a driver’s license, a passport, a military ID or even a handgun carry permit.
If you’re looking to vote absentee for the primaries, you’ll need to request an absentee ballot before July 27. To be eligible to receive an absentee ballot in Tennessee, you must meet at least one requirement that prevents you from voting in person, such as age, sickness or disability, being out of state (including college students) or other requirements for absentee voting.
Election officials advise mailing your absentee ballot with enough time to be received before the polls close on Election Day, so it can be counted with all other votes.
Have I been purged from the voter roll?
In Tennessee, the voter roll is the database that holds records of registered voters. The rolls are purged periodically to declutter the list and to deal with factors like voter inactivity, moving out of the country, or death.
Residents are considered inactive and their ability to vote is revoked after they haven’t voted or updated their registration status for two election cycles. There is currently no confirmation when Tennessee will do their next voter roll purge, but the last one took place in 2025 when roughly 195,000 inactive voters were removed from the rolls, according to a 2025 report published by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett.
To check if you’re active on voter rolls go to Voter Lookup and enter your county, name and date of birth. If you’re in the system, it will display your name, your address and where you’re able to vote during election days. If your information is out of date or you are not in the system, you can go to the Online Voter Registration system.
What about the pending election lawsuits?
In response to Tennessee’s redistricting measures, multiple lawsuits are challenging the decision, arguing the new map discriminates against minorities and weakens their voting power.
Sherman v. Hargett had its last hearing on June 18 and is awaiting a decision from the three-judge panel.
NAACP v. Hargett, awaits a court hearing.
For developments in these cases, visit WPLN’s redistricting page.
Where is my polling place?
The state of Tennessee is split into nine congressional districts that most notably — after redistricting — divides Davidson across three districts. That’s also the case for Shelby County. This means many residents are voting in a congressional district with a different number than they’ve known before, as reported by Marianna Bacallao.
To find where you should vote, go to Polling Place Finder and type in your address. It will give your voting location address, when the next Election Day is and what time the polls open and close. If you still show up to the wrong polling place, the election workers can provide information about your correct polling place.
Other questions? GoVoteTN is the state’s information site for voters.
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