TennesseeTennessee set candidate deadlines if 2026 congressional districts changed
The law applied if lawmakers redrew 2026 congressional districts after the usual deadline, letting previously qualified candidates keep their place and others seek one by May 15.
What it does
If lawmakers redrew districts after the usual deadline, candidates qualified before May 7 kept their spot in the same-numbered district. They could switch districts or withdraw by noon May 15.
If lawmakers redrew districts after the usual deadline, independent and primary candidates could file petitions by noon May 15. They needed 25 signatures from voters in counties that overlap the district. Those who qualified could not withdraw later.
If lawmakers redrew districts after the usual deadline, the state election coordinator had to tell qualified candidates and county election offices about the new district lines and special deadline, and post the information online.
If lawmakers redrew districts after the usual deadline, a party’s state committee could rule that a candidate did not meet its membership rules. It had to report that ruling by noon May 17; the candidate could not appeal.
Argument forKeeping already qualified candidates on the ballot could spare them from collecting signatures again if district lines change.
Argument againstA party’s membership ruling could leave a candidate off its ballot without a chance to appeal a mistaken decision.
More detail
Already qualified candidates kept their ballot spot in the redrawn district with the same number and could choose another district or withdraw. This covered independent and primary candidates who qualified before the law took effect on May 7, 2026, for Tennessee’s 2026 U.S. House elections. The rules applied if lawmakers changed a congressional district after the usual qualifying deadline. Candidates did not need a new petition. Switching districts required notarized written notice to the state election coordinator; withdrawing required a notarized statement. Notices to switch or withdraw were due by noon local time on May 15, 2026.
Independent and primary candidates could seek a ballot spot through a special petition period. This covered Tennessee’s 2026 U.S. House primary and general elections if lawmakers changed a district after the usual qualifying deadline. A petition needed at least 25 signatures from registered voters living anywhere in a county wholly or partly within the district. Candidates had to file the original petition with the state election coordinator. Primary candidates also had to file a certified copy with their party’s state committee. Candidates who qualified during this period could not withdraw after the deadline. Petitions were due by noon local time on May 15, 2026.
The state election coordinator had to notify qualified candidates and county election offices, then post the district changes and deadline online. The notices covered revised districts, qualified candidates, and the special deadline for Tennessee’s 2026 U.S. House elections. The notice rules applied if lawmakers changed a congressional district after the usual qualifying deadline. County election offices covering a redrawn district had to post notice if they had a website. The coordinator had to act as soon as practicable after new boundaries took effect. County offices had to post as soon as practicable after receiving notice.
A political party’s state committee could decide that a candidate did not meet its membership rules. This covered candidates who qualified under the special 2026 U.S. House rules when a party’s membership rules applied. The committee had to send an adverse decision to the state election coordinator by email. The candidate could not appeal that decision. The committee’s decision was due by noon local time on May 17, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 27Pub. Ch. 2Latest
- Jul 27Effective date(s) 05/07/2026
- May 7H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA7001)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 27 BY JONES J AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 26 BY SALINAS AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 8 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 30 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 28 BY POWELL AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 7 BY POWELL AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 22 BY JONES J AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 31 BY JONES J AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 19 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 20 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 6 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 10 BY JONES J AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 37 BY PEARSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 35 BY POWELL AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 5 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 4 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 24 BY JONES J AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 33 BY POWELL AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 34 BY POWELL AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 29 BY SALINAS AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/7/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- May 7Am (Amemndment 2 - HA7004) failed for lack of motion
- May 7Am (Amendment 3 - HA7005) failed for lack of motion
- May 7Am (Amendment 13 - HA7016) failed for lack of motion
- May 7Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- May 7Passed H., as am., Ayes 68, Nays 25, PNV 3Major
- May 7Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- May 7Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- May 7Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA7002)
- May 7Passed Senate, Ayes 23, Nays 7Major
- May 7Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- May 7Signed by Senate SpeakerPassed Senate
- May 7Signed by Senate SpeakerPassed House
- May 7Transmitted to Governor for his action.Minor
- May 7Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 7Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- May 6Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- May 6P2C, ref. to Congressional Redistricting Committee of Extraordinary Session IIMinor
- May 6Placed on cal. Congressional Redistricting Committee of Extraordinary Session II for 5/6/2026
- May 6Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee of Extraordinary Session IIMinor
- May 6Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee of Extraordinary Session II for 5/6/2026
- May 6H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 5/7/2026
- May 5Intro., P1C.Minor
- May 4Filed for introductionIntroduced
Civil Rights & VotingGovernment & Ethics