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Contributed commentary by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett:
Trusted information. These two words sound simple, but they have become more significant in recent months. Our society has seen an uptick in global disinformation — including AI manipulation and deepfakes, not to mention an overwhelming increase in unsourced information regularly shared across social media.
Although sometimes inadvertent, sharing disinformation makes it imperative for registered Tennessee voters to obtain trusted information from our office as they prepare to cast a ballot. Whether it’s opening and closing hours, location of polling places, photo ID requirements, or general election-related questions, Tennesseans can find trusted election information by visiting our website, GoVoteTN.gov, or by downloading the free GoVoteTN App.
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Through these resources, eligible citizens can view candidate lists and find polling locations with hours of opening and closing times, important dates, and even historical data from previous election years.
Our Division of Elections also regularly responds to phone calls and email inquiries on all election-related matters, including election security. Some of the more frequent questions we get focus on voting machines or preserving the integrity of the ballot box through fraud reporting.
In Tennessee, every vote is counted once — no more, no less. Bipartisan county election commissions test all machines before each election, and these machines are not connected to the internet. Thanks to funding allocated by Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, and smooth implementation by our hard-working county election officials, a verified paper audit trail exists in all 95 counties. Lastly, we offer a reporting resource and toll-free hotline on Election Day, connecting citizens directly with state officials to report possible suspicious activity and to answer questions.
Our office is also not resting on past successes. We continue to work with local election officials to meet the challenges of administering elections during a presidential election. For example, earlier this year, my office trained election officials statewide about the evolving threats of AI and deepfakes. Rest assured, we along with bipartisan local election officials remain focused on the accuracy of Tennessee’s election results.
Finally, we prioritize the efficient reporting of unofficial election night results to the public. During our most recent election, unofficial statewide results were published within a little over three hours of polls closing — a stark difference from some states that take much longer.
Trusted information, accuracy and efficiency are foundational pillars of secure elections, and they remain guiding principles in the administration of Tennessee elections. Citizens should always remember that it has never been easier for registered voters to cast a ballot in Tennessee, but it remains hard to cheat.
This election cycle, you can rely on us for trusted election information. You can also help others vote by sharing information about the GoVoteTN app and GoVoteTN.gov website. Go vote, Tennessee during early voting (Oct. 16-Oct. 31) or on Election Day (Nov. 5)!
Tre Hargett