Rutherford County Early Voting Guide: November 2026 Election

Early voting in Rutherford County runs October 14 to 29 at nine locations ahead of the November 3, 2026 election. Here are the deadlines, hours, addresses, ID rules, and what is on the ballot.

Rutherford County voters head to the polls for the November 3, 2026 State and Federal General Election, and early voting opens at nine locations across the county on Wednesday, October 14. The ballot includes races for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, the Tennessee General Assembly, municipal offices in Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville, and three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution.

This guide collects the key dates, every early voting site with its address and hours, the photo ID rules, and a plain-language description of each constitutional amendment, drawn from the Rutherford County Election Commission and the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Key Dates for the November 3, 2026 Election

According to the Rutherford County Election Commission's 2026 voter schedule:

• Voter registration deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026
• Absentee by-mail period: August 5 through October 24, 2026
• Early voting: Wednesday, October 14 through Thursday, October 29, 2026
• Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

The October 24 absentee date matches the state rule: the Tennessee Secretary of State says a written request for an absentee by-mail ballot must be received by the county election commission no later than 10 days before the election. Completed absentee ballots must then arrive by mail in time for the election commission to receive them no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

Early Voting Locations and Hours in Rutherford County

The Election Commission lists nine early voting sites for October 14 to 29. Any registered Rutherford County voter may use any early voting location, and no reason is needed to vote early.

Standard hours at eight of the nine sites: Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Rutherford County Election Office (extended weekday hours): Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Murfreesboro

• Rutherford County Election Office – 1 South Public Square, Murfreesboro (on the Public Square)
• Rutherford County Election Commission Annex – 426 E Vine Street, Murfreesboro
• Lane Agri-Park Community Center – 315 John R. Rice Blvd, Murfreesboro (Lane Agri-Park)
• Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors – 311 Butler Drive, Murfreesboro
• Murfreesboro SportsCom – 2310 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro (SportsCom)
• World Outreach Church – Leadership Park – 1921 New Salem Hwy, Murfreesboro

Smyrna

• Christ Life Church – Smyrna – 1004 Hazelwood Drive, Smyrna
• Smyrna Town Hall – 315 S Lowry Street, Smyrna

La Vergne

• La Vergne Multi-Purpose Building – 5093 Murfreesboro Rd, La Vergne

The county notes that voters who need to update their address or name can do so while voting early, and inactive voters can be reactivated. On election night, early voting results are tallied after the polls close at 7:00 p.m.

What to Bring: Tennessee Photo ID Rules

The Tennessee Secretary of State requires voters at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day, to show a federal or Tennessee state photo ID with their name and photograph. Acceptable IDs, even if expired, include:

• Tennessee driver license with a photo
• U.S. passport
• Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
• U.S. military photo ID
• Tennessee handgun carry permit with a photo

The state lists these as not acceptable: college student IDs; county or city photo IDs, such as library cards; photo IDs issued by other states; and Department of Safety photo IDs issued to non-U.S. citizens. First-time voters who registered by mail or online and bring an expired ID must also show a current document with their name and address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck.

Exemptions include voters who vote absentee by mail, voters who are hospitalized, residents of licensed nursing homes or assisted living centers who vote at the facility, voters with a religious objection to being photographed, and voters who are indigent and cannot obtain a photo ID without paying a fee.

What Is on the November 2026 Ballot in Rutherford County

Which races appear depends on where a voter lives. According to the Election Commission schedule and WGNS coverage of the county's sample ballots, offices on the ballot include:

Statewide and federal

• Governor of Tennessee
• U.S. Senate
• U.S. House of Representatives, District 4
• U.S. House of Representatives, District 9 (for voters in the portion of Rutherford County placed in the redrawn 9th District under the congressional map the General Assembly adopted in May 2026)

Tennessee General Assembly

• Tennessee Senate, District 13
• Tennessee House of Representatives, Districts 13, 34, 37, 48 and 49

Municipal elections

• [Smyrna](/smyrna-tn): Mayor and three Town Council seats
• [La Vergne](/lavergne-tn): Mayor and two Board of Mayor and Aldermen seats
• [Eagleville](/eagleville-tn): Mayor and three City Council seats

Sample ballots for each precinct are available through the Rutherford County Election Commission at ruco.vote, and voters can look up their own registration and polling information through the state's GoVoteTN portal.

The Three Proposed Constitutional Amendments

The Secretary of State notes that the proposed amendments appear on the ballot directly after the candidates for governor. Each is a yes-or-no question: a "yes" vote adopts the new language, and a "no" vote keeps the current Constitution unchanged. The descriptions below follow the official summaries provided by the Tennessee Attorney General.

Amendment 1: Pretrial Bail for Certain Offenses

This amendment would change Article I, Section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution to allow a court to hold a defendant without bail before trial, when the proof is evident or the presumption great, if the defendant is accused of: an offense punishable by the death penalty, an act of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture, or any offense for which a convicted person would have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. It would also require judges or magistrates to state on the record their reasons for granting or denying bail in those cases.

Amendment 2: Prohibiting a State Property Tax

This amendment would add language to Article II, Section 28 stating that the Legislature shall not levy, authorize, or otherwise permit any state tax on real, personal or mixed property. Local property taxes set by counties and cities are not part of this change; Tennessee does not currently have a state property tax.

Amendment 3: Crime Victims' Rights

This amendment would replace Article I, Section 35, which covers crime victims' rights. According to the official summary, it would add new rights, including the right to fair treatment; to be informed about and participate in the parole process; to be protected from harassment, intimidation and abuse; to be informed of the minimum sentence and scheduled release date; and to have the safety of the victim, the victim's family and the public considered before a release decision. It would also keep or clarify existing rights, such as notice of proceedings, being present at public proceedings, conferring with prosecutors, restitution and a speedy resolution of the case. The summary states the amendment does not restrict the powers of prosecutors or courts and does not create a claim for damages against the State.

How an Amendment Passes

For a proposed amendment to become part of the Tennessee Constitution, it must receive more "yes" votes than "no" votes, and the number of "yes" votes must be more than half of all votes cast in the governor's race. If either requirement is not met, the Constitution stays as it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is early voting in Rutherford County for the November 2026 election?

Early voting runs Wednesday, October 14 through Thursday, October 29, 2026. Most sites are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The Election Office at 1 South Public Square opens 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Where can I vote early in Murfreesboro?

Murfreesboro early voting sites are the Election Office at 1 South Public Square, the Election Commission Annex at 426 E Vine St, Lane Agri-Park Community Center, the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors on Butler Drive, SportsCom on Memorial Blvd, and World Outreach Church's Leadership Park on New Salem Highway. Voters may use any site in the county.

What is the deadline to register to vote in Rutherford County?

The registration deadline for the November 3, 2026 election is October 5, 2026.

What ID do I need to vote in Tennessee?

Voters need a federal or Tennessee state photo ID, such as a Tennessee driver license, U.S. passport, military ID or handgun carry permit with a photo. Expired IDs are accepted. College student IDs, city or county IDs and out-of-state IDs are not.

What are the three constitutional amendments on the Tennessee ballot?

Amendment 1 would allow courts to deny pretrial bail for certain serious offenses. Amendment 2 would prohibit a state property tax. Amendment 3 would rewrite the crime victims' rights section of the state Constitution.

When is the last day to request an absentee ballot?

Requests must be received by the Rutherford County Election Commission by October 24, 2026, which is 10 days before the election. Tennessee allows absentee by-mail voting only for voters who meet one of the eligibility categories set by state law.

Sources: Rutherford County Election Commission Early Voting, Rutherford County 2026 Election Schedule (PDF), WGNS Radio, Tennessee Secretary of State: Proposed Constitutional Amendments, Tennessee Secretary of State: Voter ID Requirements, Tennessee Secretary of State: Guide to Absentee Voting, WSMV.

*Questions about registration or your polling place? The Rutherford County Election Commission can be reached at 615-898-7743. For more local government coverage, visit our Rutherford County guide.*