Absentee voting is open for Shelby County voters who are not able to vote in-person this election cycle.
Numerous federal, state and local races will be on the Nov. 3 ballot, including Memphis' three controversial newly redrawn Congressional districts.
Voting absentee allows registered voters to cast their ballot by mailing it in ahead of time if they are not able to make it to the polls during the early voting period — Oct. 14 to 29 — or on Election Day.
The period to request an absentee ballot opened at the beginning of August and will close Oct. 24. The Shelby County Election Commission urges voters to apply for absentee voting as soon as possible.
Here is everything you need to know about voting absentee this election.
Who can vote absentee?
If you plan to vote absentee in Shelby County, you must fall under one of the following categories, according to the election commission:
- You will be outside of the county all day on Election Day and during the entire early voting period, which is Oct. 14 to 29;
- You or your spouse is enrolled as a full-time student at a higher education institution outside of the county;
- You live in a nursing home outside Shelby County;
- You will be unable to vote in-person because you will be serving on a jury in federal or state court;
- You are 60-years-old or older;
- You have a physical disability and your polling location is inaccessibe;
- You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled, and therefore unable to appear at your polling place;
- You are the caretaker of someone who is hospitalized, ill or disabled;
- You are a candidate for office in the upcoming election;
- You are an employee of the Shelby County Election Commission or you serve as an Election Day official;
- You observe a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in-person during early voting or on Election Day;
- You or your spouse can certify that you will be working outside of the county during the early voting period and on Election Day; or
- You are serving in the military or are an overseas citizen.
If you are a member of the military or are living overseas, you can learn more about voting through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
First-time voters must vote in-person in most cases.
How do you request an absentee ballot?
Voters can find the absentee ballot request form on the election commission's website. After filling it out, the application can be mailed to the Shelby County Election Commission's Bartlett address or emailed to absenteevoting@shelbycountytn.gov.
If you are voting absentee this year, the last day to request a ballot is 10 days before the election.
Once your application to vote absentee is approved, you will receive your ballot. You can then fill out the ballot and mail it back to the Shelby County Election Commission. Unlike the application, you cannot email the ballot.
See an absentee ballot request form
When is the deadline to submit an absentee ballot application?
The election commission must receive the application, either in the mail or by email, by Oct. 24. Election officials recommend putting in your request for an absentee ballot at least two weeks prior to the election to avoid mail delays.
Once you have requested an absentee ballot, you cannot vote in-person for that election except by using a provisional ballot.
Absentee ballots themselves will be accepted until 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, Election Day.
If you have questions, you can call the Shelby County Election Commission at 901-222-6800 or email absenteevoting@shelbycountytn.gov.
Could Trump restrict mailed ballots in time for midterms?
In the midst of the Trump administration's push to tighten the use of mail-in ballots, absentee voting may be uncertain.
The ongoing fight over absentee ballot policies could be crucial going into the 2026 midterms, which will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress.
Annie Goldman covers government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or 901-930-7431, and followed on X @AnnieSGoldman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Who can request an absentee ballot, how to do it in Shelby County
