Vote at your precinct Tuesday, one of 79 polling places in Hamilton County. On the ballot: governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, three amendments and local races.
Polls open at 8 a.m. Tuesday across Hamilton County for the State and Federal General Election. They close at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Early voting is over, so you must vote at your own precinct’s polling place.
The county has 79 polling places for Tuesday. The hours and the full list are in the Hamilton County Election Commission’s notice of polling places.
Find your polling place
Look up your precinct and polling place with the commission’s voter lookup. The same tool shows a sample ballot for your address. You can also search the polling place list by precinct, name or ZIP code, or call the commission at 423-209-8683.
Bring a photo ID issued by Tennessee or the federal government. A Tennessee driver’s license counts even if it has expired, the commission says on its Election Day page. Student IDs are not accepted.
The commission says midmorning and midafternoon usually have the shortest waits. Early morning, noon and after 5 p.m. are the busiest. Voters who are frail, physically disabled or visibly pregnant can ask to move to the front of a line.
What is on the ballot
The county’s generic sample ballot lists every contest in the county. Not every voter sees every race. Countywide, the ballot carries:
- Governor: Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn, Democratic nominee Jerri Green and 13 independent candidates
- U.S. Senate: Republican nominee Bill Hagerty, Democratic nominee Marquita Bradshaw and eight independent candidates
- U.S. House, District 3: Republican nominee Chuck Fleischmann, Democratic nominee Anna Golladay and five independent candidates
- Three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution, each a yes-or-no question
Depending on where you live, you may also vote for state Senate District 11 and one of state House districts 26 to 30.
The ballot lists no Chattanooga city races. City elections are held on a separate schedule.
The three amendments
The sample ballot gives the state’s official summary of each:
- Amendment 1, bail: a court could hold a defendant without bail before trial when the person is accused of a capital offense, terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture or any crime that carries an 85% minimum sentence. Judges would have to state their reasons on the record.
- Amendment 2, property tax: the Legislature could not levy or authorize a state tax on property.
- Amendment 3, crime victims: the amendment rewrites the victims’ rights section. It adds rights to fair treatment, to take part in the parole process, to protection from harassment and to be told an offender’s minimum sentence and release date.
Read the full wording on the sample ballot before you go.
Races in nearby towns
Voters in several Hamilton County towns also elect local officials, according to the commission’s notice of election:
| Town | On the ballot |
|---|---|
| East Ridge, about five miles away | Mayor, two City Council seats, city court clerk and a charter amendment on benefits for the mayor and council |
| Red Bank, about four miles away | Three commission seats and a charter referendum |
| Signal Mountain, about eight miles away | Four Town Council seats |
| Collegedale, about 11 miles away | Two commission seats |
| Soddy-Daisy, about 14 miles away | Two commission seats |
| Lakesite | Two commission seats |
| Ridgeside | Three commission seats |
| Walden | One alderman seat |
Results
The Election Commission holds a called meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at its office, 700 River Terminal Road, on business relating to the election, its public notice says. Results posted on election night are unofficial until they are certified.
What it means for you
- Vote between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at your own precinct. Early voting sites are closed.
- Check your polling place with the voter lookup before you leave.
- Bring a Tennessee or federal photo ID.
- Go midmorning or midafternoon for a shorter wait.
More on registering, absentee ballots and ID rules is in our voting guide. If you are driving downtown this week, see road closures for the Head of the Hooch.
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