Before you can vote in Tennessee, you've gotta be registered.

If you're not sure if you're registered already, you can check, on the internet, using the link in the description. If you do that and you find that you're not registered yet, or you need to update your name or address, you'll need to fill out a registration form.

You can register online if you have a Tennessee driver's license and your social security number. Otherwise you'll need to print the form linked in the description and mail it in. Either way you register, you have to register at least 30 days before the election.

Otherwise you can find a paper application at a public library, county election commission office, or a county clerk's office if you don't have access to a printer. Once you register, you get to vote. In certain situations, you can vote absentee by mail, like if you will be out of state on election day, or if you're over 60, or you have an illness, disability, or religious belief that prevents you from going to the polls.

If any of those apply to you, you'll need fill out the absentee ballot request form linked in the description and mail to your county's election commissioner. A link to all their contact information is in the description. You can request your ballot any time between now and October 30th, but the sooner you get your request in, the longer you will have to look it over, research candidates, and vote before you send it in by November 6th.

For everyone else, if you want to vote early, you'll need to do it in person. From October 17th to November 1st, any registered voter can skip the election day lines and vote at a county election commission office or satellite voting location. The hours and locations vary by county, so check your county's elections website before you go.

You can also find out more about voting early on Tennessee's voter information app. It's called GoVoteTN and it's a good resource to find your polling places and times as well as a sample ballot, and there's a link in the description to where you can download it. If you really want to vote in person on November 6th, you can find out where you need to go to vote in the app or using the link in the description.

Polls are open from 7am to 7pm if you live in the central time part of Tennessee, 8am to 8pm if you're in eastern time part. You'll need to bring a photo ID with you, like a Tennessee driver's license, state ID, military ID, handgun carry permit, or passport. If you don't have any of those, you can get a free voter ID at a Driver Services Center – there's a link to more info on getting a voter ID below.

I also suggest you check your County Election Commission's website or the GoVoteTN app to look at a sample ballot that tells you everything you're gonna be able to vote for. You don't have to vote for every single item on the ballot – you can leave things blank if you want to – but your local elections can be pretty important, so it's worth checking out what's on there ahead of time. You can even print it out, fill it out, and bring it with you to the polls, so you don't forget how you wanted to vote.

One last thing: if you're going to vote, open up your notes app or grab a pen and paper and make a plan. Write down when and how you're going to register; what time you're going to go vote; how you're gonna get there; what ID you're going to use; even who you're going to bring with you to the polls. Having a plan is a great way to make sure that nothing unexpected stops you from being counted on November 6th.

All the links you need to check your registration and polling location are in the description. Thank you for voting.