The short version
Tennessee uses partisan primaries, and getting on the ballot is unusually simple: you file a nominating petition that requires only a small number of signatures. Primary winners and qualifying independents advance to the November general election.
- Offices you can run for
- Federal (U.S. House and Senate); statewide (Governor); the Tennessee Senate and House; county and municipal offices; and judicial seats.
- How to get on the ballot
- Get an original nominating petition from the Coordinator of Elections or your county election commission and collect at least 25 signatures from registered Tennessee voters (your own signature doesn't count toward the 25). File the original with the appropriate election commission and a certified duplicate with the Coordinator of Elections by the qualifying deadline.
- Who runs candidate filing
- Tennessee Secretary of State — Division of Elections
This is a plain-language overview, not legal advice. Filing deadlines and fees change every election cycle and vary by office — the official Tennessee resources below are the final word. When in doubt, the elections authority is right and we're wrong.
Official Tennessee candidate resources
Start here for the exact deadlines, fees, forms, and signature counts for your office and cycle.
- Information for Candidates →
- Qualifying Procedures for Running for Office →
- Where to File Nominating Petitions →
Once you're on the ballot, Motion51 runs your field game.
Get your district's voter file loaded, cut into walkable turf, and onto an app your volunteers use at the door. Tennessee is fully available — see how to get your voter file.
Talk to us about your Tennessee race
Tell us what you're running for and we'll help you go from "qualified" to "knocking doors" — voter file loaded, turf cut, volunteers set up.