Tennessee Petition Signature Requirements (2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in Tennessee, the 2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the Tennessee voter file.
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters |
|---|---|---|
| State Senator, State Representative | — | 5% |
| Governor | — | 5% |
2026 petition deadlines
State Senator, State Representative; Governor
- Primary petition opens:
- January 15, 2026
- Primary petition deadline:
- April 2, 2026
- General petition opens:
- August 7, 2026
- General petition deadline:
- August 20, 2026
- Primary election:
- August 6, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
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Start validating freeTennessee petition rules & details
Primary petition — signature rules
Major-party candidates: petition with 25 signatures + filing fee
Primary petition — deadline rules
Filing window through first Thursday in April
General petition — signature rules
Independent candidates: petition with 25 signatures
General petition — deadline rules
Independent candidates file by mid-August
Primary petition — signature rules
Major-party governor: petition with 25 signatures + filing fee
General petition — signature rules
Independent governor: petition with 25 signatures
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in Tennessee?
Tennessee signature requirements vary by office. State Senator, State Representative: 5% of enrolled voters; Governor: 5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2026 petition filing deadline in Tennessee?
For the 2026 cycle in Tennessee, the primary petition deadline is April 2, 2026, and the general petition deadline is August 20, 2026. Confirm exact dates for your office above and with your election authority.
Can I validate Tennessee petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the Tennessee voter file — checking registration, address, and duplicates in seconds per signature. You can start free, no paid Victory Waves account required.
How does signature validation work?
You upload images of your petition pages; our system transcribes each signature and matches the signer's name, address, and date against official voter registration data to confirm they're a registered voter in the correct jurisdiction.
Last updated for the 2026 cycle on May 27, 2026. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.