Voters must sign off on new application-for-ballot language during primary elections in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Early voting began April 15 in the primary election across much of East Tennessee.

While Tennessee does not register voters by party, state law dating back to 1972 states that if you vote in a party primary election, you should be a bona fide member of that party or declare allegiance to it, saying you intend to affiliate with that party.

During the 2026 primary election, voters are seeing the new language in the application for the ballot before they vote.

"When you go in to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, you'll be asked to sign a piece of paper that says I affiliate with the candidates in this primary," Don Bosch, 10News political analyst, said. "It is simply on the day that you vote in the primary, you are affiliating with that primary and those candidates."




https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knoxville/voters-sign-off-on-new-application-for-ballot-language-during-primary-elections/51-54a3bae7-0114-4a54-923a-058b3157827e