If you meet one of the conditions and wish to vote by mail, you must request an application for ballot in writing, over your signature.  The request can be made no more than 90 days in advance of an election and no later than 7 days prior to an election.  The request can be mailed, faxed or brought in person to the election commission office.

The request can serve as the application for ballot if it contains the following information:

• The voter's name (signature)
• The voter's address in the county
• The voter's social security number
• The voter's date of birth
• The address to mail the ballot if outside the county
• The election in which the voter wishes to vote (including a party preference if the election is a primary)
• The reason the voter is requesting to vote by mail (see physician's statement) 

If the request does not contain all the information listed above, the Election Commission shall send the voter an application for an absentee ballot in order to obtain the needed information.

Conditions for voting by mail

• Persons Outside of County.   If the voter will be outside the county where the voter is registered during the early voting period and on election day during all hours the polls are open for any reason other than the fact that the voter will be imprisoned.
• Students and Spouses Outside of County.  If a voter is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college, university or similar accredited institution of learning in the state which is outside the county where the voter is registered.  This provision also applies to the spouse of the student who resides with the student.
• Permanent Absentee Voting Register.  The county election commission shall establish a permanent absentee voter register for any person who is, because of sickness, hospitalization or physical disability unable to appear at either the commission office or at the person's polling place for the purpose of voting.
• Jurors.  If an individual expects to be unable to appear during the early voting period or at the polling place on election day because the person is serving as a juror for a federal or state court
• Persons Over 65 - Persons Hospitalized, Ill or Disabled.
    (A) A person sixty-five (65) years of age or older when the person requests to vote absentee;
    (B) The person is a handicapped voter as defined in TCA 2-3-109, and the voters polling place is inaccessible;
    (C) The person is hospitalized, ill or physically disabled, and because of such condition, the person is unable to appear at the person's polling place on election day; or
    (D)The person is a caretaker of a hospitalized, ill or disabled person.
• Candidates for Office.  Without stating any reason therefore, if the voter is a candidate for office in the election for which the voter seeks to cast an absentee ballot
• Election Officials - Election Commission Members or Employees, If the person is an election official or a member or employee of the election commission on election day.
• Observance of a Religious Holiday.  If the voter cannot appear during the early voting period or at the polling place because of observance of a religious holiday.  To see what Observances or Religious Holidays that apply, check with the McMinn County Election Commission.