Absentee Voters Encouraged To Drop Ballots Off At Main Post Office

Election Day is just a few short days away, and time is running out to return absentee ballots. Due to a Tennessee law, voters may want to hand deliver their ballots rather than putting them in the mail.

According to state law, ballots that arrive at the election commission after polls close on Election Day will not be counted. Because of this, election officials are encouraging absentee voters to take their ballots to their county's main post office to ensure they arrive on time. In order to make sure the ballot is counted, they should be dropped off by 3 p.m. on Election Day.

"The Postal Service is implementing extraordinary measures and resources to deliver for Tuesday's General Election," said Christopher Alexander, USPS Tennessee District Manager. "We are working closely with local elections officials to offer ballot delivery on Election Day at 95 post offices across the state."

With confusion surrounding the United States Postal Service and main-in voting, many Tennessee voters have already chosen to hand deliver their ballots.

"I wanted to make absolutely certain it got to the post office myself, so it gets put in their box and I don't have to worry about it getting lost in the mail," said Jaunita Cannon, of Nashville.

In Davidson County, voters can deliver their ballots to the branch on the bottom floor of the Frist Art Museum at 919 Broadway in Nashville. Hand it to a postal worker behind the counter so your ballot goes directly to the P.O. box for your county election commission. There is a collection box out front, but that mail would have to be sorted so there would be a chance your ballot doesn't make it to the commission before polls close.

Voters in Shelby County can take their ballots to the Bartlett Post Office before 3 p.m. on Election Day to ensure their votes arrive at the election commission office before polls close. The Post Office is located at 2966 Elmore Park Road.

According to Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, voters cannot deliver absentee ballots to their election office. They must be returned by mail (USPS, UPS, FedEx).

Click here for a list of each county's designated drop-off site on Election Day.

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