Tennessee Primary Guide

The Tennessee Democratic primary takes place on Tuesday, March 3rd and all registered Tennessee voters may participate. This is an open primary, meaning that you do not need to be a registered Democrat to participate.

Polls are open on Tuesday from the early morning through 8PM. Be sure to bring a photo ID - it is required in order to cast a vote. Check this website if you have any questions about Tennessee’s identification requirements.

Can I participate even if I’m not a registered Democrat?

Yes! Tennessee does not register voters by party. All registered voters may cast a ballot in the Democratic Primary! If you are not sure that you’re registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status here.

Who will appear on the ballot?

Because ballots need to be printed in advance, the Tennessee primary ballot will include several candidates on it who’ve withdrawn from the race. Here’s the list of active candidates who will appear on the primary ballot:

• Joe Biden

• Mike Bloomberg

• Pete Buttigieg

• Tulsi Gabbard

• Amy Klobuchar

• Bernie Sanders

• Tom Steyer

• Elizabeth Warren

What is a primary? How is it different from the caucuses that have taken place in Iowa in Nevada?

The Tennessee primary process is much more straightforward than the caucuses that took place in other states. Participants simply go to their standard polling location and vote for their candidate of choice. The experience will be similar to participating in the general election in November.

I have other questions about the process. Can you help?

Sure! Email us at info@centeractionnow.org and we will do our best to help. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office also maintains a frequently asked questions (FAQ) website that may be helpful.