With November’s presidential election fast approaching, many students who aren’t from the Tri-Cities area may be wondering how to go about filing an absentee ballot.
Registered voters from other areas must request an early voting absentee ballot from their local county election commission. To request one, students should mail or fax a letter to the commission office asking for one.
Registered voters may request applications for by-mail ballots no earlier than 90 days before the election and no later than seven days before the election.
Applications must be received no later than five days before the election.
To be counted, the ballot must be received by the county election commission no later than the close of the polls on election day, Nov. 2.
Once the election commission issues an absentee ballot to a voter, that voter can only vote by mail. Ballots cannot be hand-delivered to the office; they must be mailed.
Washington County residents who wish to vote early in-person can do so at the Washington County Election Commission offices in the Jonesborough Courthouse on Main Street in Jonesborough or at the Johnson City Downtown Centre Courthouse, 110 E. Market St.
Early voting in-person can be completed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Oct. 13-27. Early voting will also be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 23.

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