Early Voting

Early Voting is for all eligible voters who wish to vote before Election Day. Early Voting starts twenty days prior to the Election and closes five days before Election Day. You need to bring your voter registration card and/or a valid ID. All Early Voting will be at the Election Commission Office located off South Willow Ave at 705 County Services Dr.

Our new hours will be:
Monday        8:00am -- 5:00pm
Tuesday        8:00am -- 5:00pm
Wednesday   8:00am -- 5:00pm
Thursday       8:00am -- 7:00pm
Friday            8:00am -- 5:00pm
Saturday        9:00am -- 1:00pm

Early Voting Dates for the August 5, 2010 Election:
July 16, 2010 through July 31, 2010

(Workers for Early Voting will report to work at 7:45am Mon-Fri and 8:45am on Saturdays)


ABSENTEE  VOTING

If you are unable to appear at your polling place on Election Day, or during the Early Voting period at the office, you may request a by-mail ballot for the following reasons. (First time voters who registered by mail are NOT allowed to vote absentee the first time. You can call the office at 526-2566 if you are in doubt.)

1. You will be out of the county of registration during the Early Voting period and all day on Election Day;

2. You are a student (or spouse of a student) enrolled in an accredited college or university located outside the county of registration;

3. You are hospitalized, ill or disabled and therefore cannot vote in person, then call the office for details;

4. You are the caretaker of a hospitalized, ill, or disabled person, then call the office for details;

5. You are serving on a state or federal jury;

6. You are observing a religious holiday;

7. You are 65 years of age or older;

8. A physician has filed a statement with the county Election Commission stating that, in the physician's judgment, the voter is medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed with the Election Commission not less than seven (7) days before the election. Click here for more information.

9. You are a Candidate for an office in the Election;

10. You are an Election Official in the Election or an employee of the Election Commission;

11. You are a resident of a licensed Nursing Home which is outside the county;

12. You have a Commercial Driver's License and will be out of the county during the Early Voting period and all day on Election Day (you must provide your CDL number);

13. You are a member of the military or you are an overseas citizen.

If your request contains the following information, a ballot will be mailed to you.

 REQUEST FORM FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT Click Here


If your request is incomplete for any reason, an official application must be mailed to you and returned to our office before a ballot can be processed.  Only the request for ballot may be faxed to this number (931) 526-8724, e-mailed with an attached document that includes a scanned signature or hand delivered to our office. The delivery and return of the "ballot" must be done through the US mail. If you have problems please contact our office at (931) 526-2566.

Last day to receive request for by-mail voting or doctors statements is seven days prior to the Election. Your request must be in the office by the close of that day.


MILITARY (ARMED FORCES) / OVERSEAS VOTERS 

 A "Standard Form 76" is the appropriate application from armed forces, their spouses and any overseas voters. This form may be obtained from their Postal Services or 
Click Here for a Request Form 76.

Complete the Form 76, and fax it to 931-526-8724, e-mail it with an attached document that includes a scanned signature, hand deliver it to our office or mail it to: Putnam County Election Commission; 705 County Services Drive; Cookeville, TN 38501.

The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) amendment was signed by the President on October 28, 2009. This changed the length of time the Form 76 is effective in our office. In order for the voter to receive absentee ballots for any regularly scheduled election, the voter must submit a new Form 76 EACH calendar year. The Form 76 is now only effective for one (1) calendar year. On the forms, you must indicate a party preference if you wish to vote in any primary Elections.

Absentee ballots for the armed forces and overseas voters are mailed early. The ballots must be sent by-mail, and received by-mail, on or by Election Day, to be counted in the State of Tennessee. You will receive 'return envelopes' for the ballots, with no postage required.

If you are a previously registered voter here, you may fax a letter of request as is explained in "Absentee Voting" or we will accept the Form 76 from armed forces personnel, and use that as your request/application. Once again, all delivery and return of the ballot must be done through the US mail.

If  you need further information our e-mail address is:  dsteidl@putnamco.org. We will reply as soon as we can.


FAILSAFE VOTING

Federal FailSafe Voting procedures for voters who have moved within the county:

According to the 1993 Federal Voter Registration Act, all voters must vote in the precinct where they reside. However, if you appear at your old voting location, or your new voting location on Election Day, or at the Election Office during early voting, you will vote the ballot for your newly assigned precinct.

If you do not update your address information before going to vote you must complete a "FailSafe Voting Affidavit" declaring your new residence address. Election Officials will review this information to insure you vote the proper ballot at your proper location.