Tennessee says poll-worker notations alone do not void ballots

On the first day of Tennessee’s early-voting period, Secretary of State Tre Hargett rejected a social-media claim that writing or marks made by poll workers would disqualify ballots. Hargett said an administrative notation by an election official or poll worker, by itself, does not disqualify a Tennessee ballot.

The secretary of state’s office said it had received multiple calls and emails about the post. Its clarification concerns administrative notations; it does not say every possible mark on a ballot is harmless or announce a change to election rules. The office urged voters with questions about voting procedures or their ballots to contact election officials.

Tennessee’s 2026 election calendar sets early voting for the November 3 state and federal general election from October 14 through October 29, with Election Day on November 3. The early-voting period is scheduled to continue through October 29, giving voters that window to cast ballots before Election Day.