ABSENTEE BY-MAIL BALLOT REQUESTS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS
REQUEST PERIODS:
MAY 5, 2026: FEBRUARY 4 – APRIL 25, 2026
AUGUST 6, 2026: APRIL 6 – JULY 27, 2026
NOVEMBER 3, 2026: AUGUST 5 – OCTOBER 24, 2026
***An absentee by-mail ballot request is only valid for ONE election and must be filed with the Washington County Election Commission Office during the request periods shown above. If a voter wishes to vote by-mail again, a new application must be submitted during the request period of said Election.
NURSING HOME RESIDENT: If you reside in a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, home for the aged, or an independent living facility on the same property as a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, or home for the aged inside your county of residence, you may not vote absentee by-mail. Election officials will come to the facility to vote eligible residents, or you may vote during early voting or on Election Day.
DO I QUALIFY FOR THE PERMANENT ABSENTEE LIST?
You will receive an application for ballot for each election if your licensed physician signs a statement stating that, in their judgment, you are medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed not less than TEN (10) days before the election and signed under the penalty of perjury.
MILITARY AND OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING
This form is for absent Uniformed Service members, their families, and citizens residing outside the United States. It is used to register to vote, request absentee ballot, or update your contact information.
Who can request an Absentee By-Mail Ballot?
- You are sixty (60) years of age or older.
- You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.
- You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
- You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
- You or your spouse are a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.
- You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.
- You are a candidate for office in the election.
- You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
- You will be unable to vote in-person due to jury duty.
- You have a disability and an inaccessible polling place.
- You or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.
- You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.
- You are on the permanent absentee list.
When can I request my ballot?
You may request an absentee by-mail ballot no earlier than ninety (90) days before the election and no later than ten (10) days before the election.
Mail: 2516 East Oakland Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601
Email: voteabsentee@wcecoffice.com
Do I need to put my full Social Security Number on the Absentee Ballot Request Form?
Yes. Your full Social Security Number is required.
Am I required to have a witness sign my ballot affidavit?
No. You are not required to have a witness sign your ballot affidavit unless you needed assistance while completing your ballot.
Can I hand deliver my ballot to the Election Office?
You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or handing it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day is not permitted.
ADDRESS: 2516 East Oakland Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601
Do I need to complete an Absentee By-Mail Ballot Application for each election?
Yes! Each application is specific an election.
REQUEST PERIODS:
MAY 5, 2026: FEBRUARY 4 – APRIL 25, 2026
AUGUST 6, 2026: APRIL 6 – JULY 27, 2026
NOVEMBER 3, 2026: AUGUST 5 – OCTOBER 24, 2026
I'm in a nursing home. Can I request an Absentee Ballot?
If you reside in a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, home for the aged, or an independent living facility on the same property as a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, or home for the aged inside your county of residence, you may not vote absentee by-mail. Election officials will come to the facility to vote eligible residents, or you may vote during early voting or on Election Day.
I am a first time voter. Can I vote by-mail?
Unless you are on the permanent absentee voting register, enrolled in the Safe at Home program, or you have previously voted in the county of registration, you must appear in-person to vote in the first election after you have registered by-mail or online at GoVoteTN.gov.
Can I track my ballot?
Yes. Go to Tennessee’s voter lookup page on the Division of Elections homepage. Enter your information and you will be able to track when the ballot was received by the local county election commission office.
RETURN YOUR APPLICATION TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE:
MAILING ADDRESS: 2516 East Oakland Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601
EMAIL: voteabsentee@wcecoffice.com
RETURN YOUR ABSENTEE BY-MAIL BALLOT BY MAIL:
You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or handing it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day is not permitted.
ADDRESS: 2516 East Oakland Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601
NOTICE:
*Unless you are on the permanent absentee voting register, enrolled in the Safe at Home program, or you have previously voted in the county of registration, you must appear in-person to vote in the first election after you have registered by-mail or online at GoVoteTN.gov.
*A person who is not an employee of an election commission commits a Class E felony if such person gives an application for an absentee ballot to any person or commits a Class A misdemeanor if such person gives an unsolicited request for application for absentee ballot to any person. T.C.A. § 2-6-202(c)(3) and (4).