Absentee ballot requests being taken by Election Commission
Knox County Election Commission encourages eligible voters to request an absentee ballot well in advance of the Aug. 6 Election, as expressed in a KCEC press release.
“Eligible voters can begin requesting an absentee ballot for the Aug, 6 Federal/State Primary, County General and Town of Farragut Municipal elections,” the release stated. “To vote absentee (by mail), a registered voter must meet one of the following criteria:”
• 60 years of age or older;
• hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and because of such condition the individual cannot vote in person;
• a caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill or disabled;
• outside Knox County during the early voting period and all day on Election Day;
• you or your spouse is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside Knox County;
• have a physical disability with an inaccessible polling location;
• reside in a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside Knox County;
• a candidate for office in the election;
• unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court;
• Election Day official or as a member or employee of the Knox County Election Commission;
• observance of a religious holiday prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day;
• member of the military or are an overseas citizen;
• commercial driver working out of county.
The last day to request an absentee ballot is seven days before the election (Thursday, July 30).
“Our recommendation is that the voter complete this application as soon as possible and return it to the Election Commission,” said Chris Davis with KCEC. “We want to make sure the voter receives his or her ballot with plenty of time to complete and return it by mail.”
Completed applications must have the voter’s signature and can be faxed (865-215-4239), e-mailed (tammy.cole@knoxcounty.org or mailed to the KCEC office (300 Main St., Suite 218, Knoxville, TN, 37902).
Ballots will begin being mailed out to voters the week of June 22 to voters who have requested them.
The ballot must be returned by mail, Fed Ex or UPS. It cannot be hand-delivered to the Election Commission office or a polling location.
The application for absentee ballot is posted on the front page of the Knox County Election Commission’s website: www.knoxvotes.org
For more information, contact KCEC at 865-215-2480.
