§ 2-5-211 — Sample ballots

(a) The county election commission shall provide two (2) sample ballots for each polling place, arranged in the manner of the paper ballots for the polling place where voting machines are not used, but arranged in the form of a diagram showing the part of the face of the voting machine in use at that election where voting machines are used. Sample ballots may be either full or reduced size and shall contain suitable illustrated instructions for voting; provided, that in any county in which the votomatic punch card system is used, the county election commission may use copies of the guide page ballot as sample ballots. (b) At least five (5) days before the beginning of an early voting period and at least five (5) days before an election, the county election commission shall: (1) Publish a sample ballot in a newspaper of general circulation. Where voting machines are used, the sample ballot shall be the machine sample ballot. The sample ballot shall contain the names of all candidates and all offices and a statement of all questions on which voters may vote. A sample ballot does not have to be published in a newspaper of general circulation if a sample ballot that complies with this section has been mailed at least five (5) days prior to the beginning of the early voting period to every active registered voter. If more than one (1) registered voter is at the same address, then only one (1) sample ballot may be sent to that address; and (2) Post a sample ballot on a website maintained by the county election commission or, if the county election commission does not have or maintain a website, on the website maintained by the secretary of state. The sample ballot shall contain the names of all candidates and all offices and a statement of all questions on which voters may vote.

Legislative History

Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 179, s 3, eff. 7/1/2013. Acts 1972, ch. 740, § 1; T.C.A., § 2-517; Acts 1981, ch. 240, § 1; 1995, ch. 88, § 11; 2004, ch. 480, § 5; 2008 , ch. 1066, § 1.