1) I’ve been very concerned about 1st-time voters using absentee ballots. The state is doing ZERO to explain exactly what to do.

A federal judge ruled that they can RECEIVE an absentee ballot. But in order for their vote to COUNT, they still have to provide a copy of their ID.

2) Right now, all over our state, 1st time voters are filling out absentee ballots.

Do they KNOW they are supposed to provide a copy of their ID inside the return envelope? Probably not.

I cannot find anyone to explain this process in detail, so I’m going w/ what I would do.

3) This is not my job & the SOS & the 95 election commissions should be doing a MUCH better job informing the public, but instead they provide the following.

Will you wait to be sent instructions? That would be a very bad idea.

4) So this is what I would do if I were a 1st-time voter using an absentee ballot.

Remember, because 1st-time voters registered on line or by mail, they haven’t yet shown their ID to election officials. TN law requires that voters show an ID in order for their vote to count.

5) First, you need to understand what you get in the mail:

There is the “addressed” envelope to YOU. You can remove the contents & discard that envelope.

Inside there’s a ballot & TWO other envelopes. We will call them the “privacy” envelope, & the “return” envelope.

6) Once you mark your ballot for the candidates of your choice, you will put the ballot in the privacy envelope. Seal it and sign it.

7) Next you are going to need to make a copy of your valid ID (check SOS website for all options), but in general, a TN driver’s license or a passport are the most common.

8) Place the copy of the ID in the return envelope & place the sealed privacy envelope inside as well. Seal the return envelope. Remember, the copy of the ID should be in the RETURN envelope, not inside the PRIVACY envelope with the marked ballot.

9) Will the return ballot now require TWO stamps? It has an extra piece of paper inside, so maybe!?

Place two stamps on the return envelope just to be sure before you mail it in.

10) There’s a reason that this detailed explanation is not available elsewhere. Our SOS doesn’t want the ballots of 1st-time absentee voters to count. This is why he fought in federal court to keep them from getting absentee ballots. He lost.

11) It’s now up to us to make that these votes COUNT.

If absentee ballots show up from 1st-time voters who have NOT shown their IDs in person or have not included a copy of their ID inside the return envelope, these votes will not count.

Spread the word.

12) If there is any election official who wants to correct me on any of this, please do!

But if you aren’t going to give precise instructions to 1st-time voters using absentees (students, new Americans, transplants to TN), then we have to guess.

And that’s voter suppression.