The Aug. 6 primary election has arrived in Shelby County, and while the positions residents are voting for have not changed, some aspects are different from early voting.
Primary elections are used to determine
which candidates will be on the ballot for the general election, which will take place on Nov. 3. The Aug. 6 election is the last chance to vote in the primaries ahead of some important state and county elections this year.
Here is what to know to cast your vote in the primary election.
Where to find primary sample ballots for Memphis?
Primary elections will take place for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, odd-numbered districts in the Tennessee Senate, all Tennessee House seats, and the Republican and Democratic State Executive Committees. Residents in Shelby County will vote for both the county's next mayor and sheriff, along with a slate of Shelby County Commissioners and judicial clerks.
To view the Democratic or Republican primary sample ballot before heading to the polls, visit electionsshelbytn.gov and navigate to the "Elections" tab at the top of the webpage or view them here.
Where do I vote?
To vote on election day, you must go to your assigned polling place. To find your assigned voting location, use the interactive map on the Shelby County Election Commission's website, or search for your precinct by entering your address on the Tennessee Secretary of State's website.
Can I still vote in the primaries?
The deadline to register to vote in the primary election cycle was July 7, so there is no chance to register for the primaries if you were not already registered before that date.
The general election after the primaries will be Nov. 3, and the registration deadline for that election will be on Oct. 5.
Is Tennessee an open primary state?
Tennessee is still an open primary state. This means that voters do not have to be affiliated with a particular party to vote for that party's primary candidates.
For example, a Tennessee voter who identifies with the Republican Party can choose a ballot from any party when voting, and doing so is completely legal.
There have been several attempts in recent years to close the primaries, but Tennessee's primary elections remain open.
How to find your district in Tennessee 2026?
In May 2026, Tennessee underwent mid-decade redistricting after the Supreme Court struck down a congressional map in Louisiana that had been drawn to protect the voting power of Black residents.
As a result of the new redistricting map, which split the state's only remaining Democratic District, many residents will be part of a new district in the coming election. To find out which district you are in, the Tennessee General Assembly website provides a tool that allows residents to enter their address to find their elected officials.
Tennessee residents can also visit house.gov and find their representative and district by searching for their zip code.
Do I need a Real ID to vote in Tennessee?
The general rule for voting in Tennessee is that a state- or government-issued photo ID will work. IDs accepted for voting include:
- Tennessee driver's license with your photo
- United States passport
- Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Photo ID issued by the federal or the state of Tennessee government
- United States Military photo ID
- A Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo
Tennessee driver's licenses with "NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES" still count as a valid photo ID.
College student IDs and photo IDs not issued by the federal or Tennessee state government are not acceptable.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Where to vote in Shelby County after redistricting: Find your polling place for Aug. 6 primary
