Dekalb County Election Commission

Guide for Voter Registration Drives

Introduction

One of the Goals of the DeKalb County Election Commission is to strive for 100 percent registration of all eligible citizens.

We thank you for your willingness to “Conduct a Voter Registration Drive” and encourage you to review the contents of this guide. Please contact us at 615-597-4146 if you have any questions.

The Decision to Conduct a Voter Registration Drive is:

  • A worthy a cause
  • Fundamental to the election process
  • Important & should be taken seriously
  • Taking responsibility to make government work

The Voter Registration Drive will be successful when:

  • Forms are properly completed
  • Forms are delivered to the DeKalb County Election office prior to registration deadlines.
  • Forms are made available to individuals without discrimination
  • Individuals conducting the voter registration drive insure that the persons receiving the forms understand how to fill them out and that they are aware of the registration deadlines.
  • Applicants are advised that they will receive a voter registration card in the mail and to contact this office if they never receive a card.

The Voter Registration Application can be used to:

  • Apply to Register to Vote
  • Report a Change of Address for a Voter
  • Report a Name Change
  • Report a Change in other Information
  • Cancel a Voter’s Registration in another County or State

To be Eligible to Register to Vote

ALL of the following qualifications must be met:

  • be a U.S. Citizen
  • be a Legal Resident
  • be 18 Years of Age by the Date of the Next Election
  • Not have been Convicted of a Felony or have had Voting Rights restored as required by state law
  • Submit a properly completed voter registration application at least 30 days before an upcoming election

These qualifications are the same county to county. However, to be eligible to register in another Tennessee County, the individual must be a resident of that county as well as meet the other qualifications. To register in DeKalb County one must be a resident of DeKalb County, not a weekend visitor to Center Hill Lake!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Voter Registration Deadlines are specific under the law. If a person registers at the election office the deadline is 30 days prior to Election Day. If a form is postmarked 29 days prior to election day, it may be accepted.

A form with a postmark of less than 29 days before Election Day would be considered UNTIMELY and the individual WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE to participate in the upcoming election.

Conducting a voter registration drive makes you responsible for getting the forms delivered by the deadline. Don’t rely on a postmark. All post offices do not have the same hours of operation.

Processing Voter Registration Applications at the Election Office

If a Mail-In Voter Registration Application is untimely, the voter will be notified by mail that their registration was received after the deadline and they will not be eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

Voter registrations filed by the registration deadline are processed in the order in which they are received. An applicant’s eligibility is determined by the DeKalb County Election Office personnel based on state law. Registrations that are incomplete (missing social security number, signature, date of birth, etc.) will be rejected and the voter notified in writing. Occasionally, registration forms are received in DeKalb County that must be forwarded to a neighboring county. Hopefully, each application in your registration drive will be timely and properly completed.

GIVING FALSE INFOMRATION WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE IS A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY NOT LESS THAN 6 YEARS INPRISIONMENT OR A FINE OF $3000 OR BOTH.

The DeKalb County Election Office will issue a voter registration card to each eligible voter. While conducting your registration drive, please advise each applicant to look for their DeKalb County Voter Registration Card in the mail. Advise them to read the card for accuracy and, if everything is in order, to sign the card and keep it in a safe place until the next election.

INDIVIDUALS THAT REGISTER BY MAIL MUST VOTE IN PERSON THE FIRST TIME THEY APPEAR TO VOTE The definition of “in person” would be to appear personally at their election day polling place with proper I.D. or appear personally at an early voting location with proper I.D. First time voters who register with a mail-in application must present additional identification.

Some forms of Valid I.D. for first time voters are:

  • DeKalb County Voter Registration Card with current residential address, or
  • Valid Tennessee Driver License with current address, or
  • Photo I.D. with voter’s name & voter’s signature, or
  • Photo I.D. without voter’s signature plus social security card or credit card, or Passport

ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACE INFO

DeKalb County Election Day Polling Places open at 8 AM and close at 7 PM. The location of your polling place is located on your Voter Registration Card.

A voter knowing the location of their election day polling place avoids problems and delays.

LOCATION OF MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS

Additionally, forms can be found at any City Hall or Public Library. The Department of Safety, Department of Human Services, Military Recruiting Offices, DeKalb County Health Department, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and at our office which is located in Room 104 of the DeKalb County Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Smithville.

Voter Registration Forms are also available on the DeKalb County Election Office website, www.dekalbelections.com Download the form and print it out on WHITE PAPER. Complete the form in ink. Mail the form to our P.O. Box 543, Smithville TN 37166 at least 30 days before any upcoming election day.

PURGED REGISTRATIONS or PERMANENTLY REGISTERED?

As required by law, all 95 County Election Offices in Tennessee purge voter registration records on a daily basis. Registering in a county automatically removes that person from the registration files in the county of prior residence.

Other Legal Reasons to Purge a Voter:

  • Upon receipt of a request to purge the registration from the voter.
  • Upon the death of the voter.
  • Upon written confirmation that the voter has moved outside the county of registration or has registered to vote in another jurisdiction.
  • Upon learning that a voter has had a name change for ninety (90) days or more, except by marriage, and the voter has failed to notify the election office.
  • Upon receiving official confirmation that the voter has been convicted of an infamous crime as defined in T.C.A. 40-20-112.


State of Tennessee Mail In Voter Registration Form

The Applicant should complete the entire form. Inform them that they should receive a voter registration card in the mail. Tell them to contact this office at 615-597-4146 if they do not receive it within 10 days.

DO NOT USE A PENCIL. DO NOT USE A POST OFFICE BOX AS YOUR LEGAL ADDRESS
Please notice that anyone who registers by mail must vote in person the first time after registering.