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Announcement as sent in email to all county election commission offices in Tennessee on July 13, 2026.
V.O.T.E.
Voting Officials – Trusted Elections
VO-TE.org
Fellow Tennessee Election Officials,
We are pleased to announce a new organization for Tennessee Election Officials. VOTE is a culmination of ideas expressly by Election Officials for Election Officials! All members are on equal ground for opportunity of involvement to improve the organization and its members.
Voting Officials-Trusted Elections holds the Public Charity Status of 509(a)(2) and is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170. The organization also qualifies to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522.
Some of the benefits are construction of by-laws and policies for best practices in running the organization, for its members while upholding compliance to the highest levels of integrity and expectations anticipated by the members and public.
This introduction was rolled out a couple of weeks ago in east Tennessee, and is now pushed across the state offering the possibility to grow.
Please read the attached By-Laws and the Policies and Procedures Manual in your preparation to join. For your convenience also attached is a membership application form.
This roll out of the organization is in its infancy and necessary steps must be taken in order to grow into a robust association.
Presently and until the membership is built and elections can be held at the December 2-4, 2026 seminar, the Incorporating Directors are vested to initiate the needed steps to facilitate the basic requirements of the start-up.
The Incorporating Directors have organized as follows:
Board Chairman, Tim Sweat- Morgan County
Board Vice-Chairman, Susan Harrison- Loudon County
Board Secretary, Charles Holiway- Roane County
Director, Joey Williams- Fentress County
Director, James Brown- Monroe County
The Board of Directors made the following appointments to the Executive Committee (serve until next election, December 3, 2026):
President, Tim Sweat- Morgan County
Vice-President, Susan Harrison- Loudon County
Secretary, Charles Holiway- Roane County
Treasurer, Charles Holiway- Roane County
Committee Chairs:
Seminar Committee Chair, Susan Harrison- Loudon County
Elections Committee Chair, Tim Sweat- Morgan County
Additional appointments will be made as the membership grows. Please indicate on your membership registration form if you would wish to serve on any committee and in what capacity.
Please understand that there is an August 1st deadline (Deadline now extended to September 1st due to compressed introduction and pending elections) for submitting and payment of your membership application and dues in order to be Bona-fide and eligible to vote in any elections or matters brought before the membership in that upcoming membership year. The August 1st deadline will be the standard time-frame for every annual membership dues to be paid. The membership year is August 1 through July 31.
Any voting member may run for office by submitting a letter requesting their name be placed on the ballot prior to the qualifying deadline. Absentee voting by mail is allowed upon request for voting members that cannot attend the seminar.
Please note the following deadlines and event dates which may also be found on our website VO-TE.org:
Approved dates per by-laws or otherwise:
Membership Dues deadline- Aug 1st (extended to Sept 1st),
Candidate Qualifying deadline- Sept 17th,
Candidate Write-In submission deadline- Oct 14th,
Seminar Room Guest Reservation deadline- Oct 1st,
Seminar Registration deadline- Nov 1st,
Absentee Request deadline- Nov 18th,
Return of Absentee Ballot deadline- Nov 26th,
Seminar Dates- Dec 2-4,
Election Day- Dec 3rd
This organization is starting out with zero funds and are reliant upon memberships and registration fees to fund the operations and seminar. Charges for attending the seminar will closely follow the anticipated cost of the seminar.
We look forward to growing the organization and its success will depend on each of us working together.
Please share this announcement as we are accepting applications for memberships from:
County Election Commissioners, Administrator of Elections, Deputy Administrator of Elections, or other election staff employed full time.
We are also accepting Ex-Officio memberships from the Secretary of State, members of the State Election Commission, State Coordinator of Elections, or others approved by the Board of Directors.
Thank you as we look forward to your participation in this new organization.
Tim Sweat
Board of Directors,- Chairman
President
Seminar Committee Meeting
TBD
Election Committee Meeting
TBD
Executive Committee Meeting
TBD
