Homeless Persons Residency

In order to register to vote in Tennessee, a person does not have to live in a building.  Instead, a person who finds himself or herself homeless must describe where the person usually stays or returns to when absent.  This location may be the address of a shelter where the person stays or frequents, or it may be the description of a street corner where the person may often rest.  A physical description of the location must be given so that the election commission knows in which voting precinct to place the person.  T.C.A. 2-2-122.

The election commission must mail voter registration cards to people who register to vote by mail.  Therefore, if a homeless person tries to register to vote by mail using an address where the person does not get the mail, the person will have to give a mailing address where he or she can receive mail.  For example, a homeless voter may be able to use a shelter as a mailing address. Another option is to use General Delivery as a mailing address. T.C.A. 2-2-106.

If the voter registration card is returned as undeliverable to the election commission twice, then the registration will be voided, and the person will not be a registered voter.  T.C.A. 2-2-115.

In addition, like all registered voters, a homeless person should let the county election commission know when there are any changes to the mailing address or address where the person is registered to vote.