Publication of Election Notices

The county election commission is required to publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the county a notice of all elections, except special elections, at least twenty-one (21) days before the qualifying deadline. A notice of elections on questions must be published sometime between twenty (20) and thirty (30) days before election day, and must include in its entirety the resolution or other instrument that is to be decided. Finally, a notice of every election, stating the day, time, and polling places, must be published sometime between ten (10) and three (3) days before the election. T.C.A. § 2-12-111.

At least five days before the start of early voting and at least five days before election day the election commission must also publish a sample ballot in a newspaper of general circulation; however, a sample ballot does not have to be published if the election commission instead mails a sample ballot to all registered voters at least five days prior to the beginning of the early voting period. T.C.A. § 2-5-211. Also, at least five days before the start of early voting and at least five days before election day, the election commission must post a sample ballot on a website maintained by the county election commission or, if the county election commission does not have or maintain a website, on the website maintained by the secretary of state. T.C.A. § 2-5-211.