WEBVTT

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♪ (patriotic music) ♪

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Hello Tennessee!

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If you’re watching this
then I assume you want to vote!

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Before you can vote in Tennessee, 
you’ve gotta be registered.

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If you’re not sure
if you’re registered already,

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you can check using the link 
in the description.

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If you’re not registered yet,

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or you need to update 
your name or address,

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you’ll need to fill out
a registration form.

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If you have a Tennessee 
driver’s license or state ID,

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you can register online 
at the link in the description,

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but if you don’t have a Tennessee ID, 
you can still register by mail.

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You just print off the form 
using the link below

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and mail it to your county’s board
of elections by October 5th.

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Once you register, you get to vote.

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In certain situations, 
you can vote absentee by mail,

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like if you will be 
out of state on election day,

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or you have an illness, disability,

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or religious belief that prevents you 
from going to the polls.

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If any of those apply to you,

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you’ll need to fill out
the absentee ballot request form

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linked in the description

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and mail it to your county’s
election commissioner.

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A link to all their contact information
is in the description.

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You can request your ballot 
any time before October 27th,

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but the sooner you get your request in,

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the longer you'll have 
to look it over, fill it out,

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and send it back 
before November 3rd.

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For everyone else, 
if you want to vote early,

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you’ll need to do it in person.

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From October 14th to the 29th, 
any registered voter can vote

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at a county election commission office
or satellite voting location.

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The hours and locations vary by county,

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so check your county’s elections 
website before you go.

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If you want to vote on election day 
on November 3rd,

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you can find out where you need to go
to vote using the link in the description.

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Polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm

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if you live in the Central Time part
of Tennessee,

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8 am to 8 pm if you’re in Eastern Time.

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You’ll need to bring a photo ID with you, 
like a Tennessee driver’s license,

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state ID, military ID, 
handgun permit, or passport.

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If you don’t have any of those,

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you can get a free voter ID 
at a Driver Services Center

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--there’s a link to more info 
on getting a voter ID below.

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I also suggest you check 
your County Election Commission’s website

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to look at a sample ballot that tells you
everything you’ll be able to vote for.

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You don’t have to vote for 
every single item on the ballot

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--you can leave things blank 
if you want to.

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But your local elections 
can be pretty important,

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so it’s worth checking out 
what’s on there ahead of time.

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You can even take a screenshot 
or print it out

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and bring it to the polls with you

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so you don’t forget 
how you wanted to vote.

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The best thing to do 
if you want to vote this year

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is to make a plan to vote right now--

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from what day 
you’re gonna register

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to whether you are gonna vote 
in person or absentee.

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What kind of ID you’re going to use, 
and where that ID is,

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even what time you’re going to the polls
and how you’re going to get there.

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Write it down, put it in your notes app, 
text it to your friend, just make a plan

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so that nothing unexpected stops you 
from being counted on November 3rd.

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All the links you need 
to check your registration,

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vote early and find your polling location 
are in the description.

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Thanks for being a voter!

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How To Vote in Every State 
is produced by Complexly

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in partnership with
The MediaWise Voter Project,

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which is led by The Poynter Institute 
and supported by Facebook.