Early Voting

Early Voting is for all eligible voters who wish to vote prior to the Election, no matter what the reason is. Early Voting starts twenty days prior to the Election and is open for fifteen days for the Early Voting, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, at the Election Commission Office in the courthouse. You need to bring your voter registration card and/or a valid ID.

Early Voting Dates for the August 7, 2008 Election:

*July 18, 2008  through August 2, 2008,  Monday -- Saturday 8:00-5:00


 ABSENTEE  VOTING

If you are unable to appear at your polling place on Election Day, or Early Vote at the office, you may request a by-mail ballot for the following reasons.

1. If you will be out of town during Early Voting and on Election Day.

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

3. If you are hospitalized, ill or disabled.

4. If you are the caretaker of a hospitalized, ill, or disabled person.

5. If you are serving on a state or federal jury.

6. If you are observing a religious holiday.

7. If you are 65 years of age or older.

8. A person who is on the permanent disabled mailing list. (If you are hospitalized, ill, disabled and are not able to appear during Early Voting or at your polling place on Election day, you may file a Doctor's Statement of your condition, forms are available from our office. Once this form is on file, you will automatically be mailed an application for ballot for all Elections that you are eligible to vote in.)

9. If you are a Candidate for an office in the Election

10. If you are an Election Official in the Election.

11. If you are a resident of a licensed Nursing Home which is outside the county.

12. If you have a Commercial Drivers License & will be out of county during early voting & Election Day. You must provide your CDL number.

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. By-mail voting is just that. All this process must be done through the US mail. Only the request for ballot may be faxed to this number (931) 526-8724. 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 or mail it to: Putnam County Election Commission; 300 East Spring Street, Rm. #10; Cookeville, TN 38501. The National Defense Authorization Act was signed on October 28, 2004, and states that the State shall provide an absentee ballot to the voter through two (2) regularly scheduled general Elections for Federal office. The voter is not required to submit any other requests during this period of time. The absentee ballots are sent automatically. This can be used for Primaries, usually held in February or May; the August General Elections for State & Local candidates and the November General State and Federal Election. As we have our ballots ready we will send you the ballots you are eligible to vote. You must indicate a party preference if you wish to vote in primary Elections. You will also need to notify us if your mailing address changes during the two(2)-election years cycle. Absentee ballots for the armed forces and overseas voters are mailed before absentee ballots for persons that have requested absentee ballots for "standard" reasons listed above. The ballots must be sent by-mail and received by-mail delivery on the day of the Election to be counted in the State of Tennessee. You will receive envelopes to return the ballots to us in 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 a faxed copy of the form 76 from armed forces personnel, and use that as your request/application, but ballots can not be faxed to you or received by fax from you. If  you need further information our e-mail address is:  nboman@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.