How to Run for Office in Tennessee
A candidate filing guide from Campaign Partner, websites for candidates since 2011.
Your Campaign Website
When you file, your name becomes public and voters, reporters and donors will search for it. Have your website ready first - Campaign Partner sites are ready at signup, from $29/month, free domain name included.
Getting on the Ballot
Tennessee's ballot-access barrier is remarkably low: a nominating petition signed by just 25 registered voters from the district, and no government filing fee for any office. Petitions are issued by the county election commission (or the state Division of Elections for statewide races), must be original issued forms - photocopies are rejected - and are due back by a noon qualifying deadline.
Filing location follows the office: local candidates file with their county election commission; state legislative candidates file the original with their home county's election commission plus certified duplicates in every county of the district; statewide candidates file with the State Election Commission and the Coordinator of Elections; and primary candidates add a certified duplicate to their party's state executive committee.
Despite the low signature count, collect 40-50 signatures - signers must match their voter registration address exactly, and shortfalls at noon on deadline day are unfixable.
Where Local Candidates File
The county election commission issues petitions, verifies signatures, answers local questions, and receives campaign finance disclosures for local candidates. Before raising or spending any money, every candidate files an Appointment of Political Treasurer - with the county election commission for local office or the Registry of Election Finance for state office. A conflict-of-interest disclosure to the Tennessee Ethics Commission follows within 30 days of the qualifying deadline.
Running for a local office? See what a school board, city council, mayor or county commissioner campaign website needs.
Worth Knowing
- 25 signatures, no fee - if you've been waiting for a sign that running is accessible, Tennessee is it. The barrier is organizational, not financial.
- The noon deadline is absolute and the petition form itself must be the issued original - build in time to pick up the form, and don't photocopy it.
- Small part-time offices (under $1,000/month compensation, under $1,000 campaign spending) are exempt from financial disclosure filings - a meaningful simplification for many rural local races.
Official Tennessee Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.