A registered voter may request a by-mail ballot by sending a written request to the Bradley County Election Commission. The request must have the voter’s signature. The request may be mailed or faxed to the county election commission office. Upon receipt of the request, the local election commission will mail an application for ballot to the voter. The application must be mailed back to the election commission and a ballot will be mailed to the voter.  However, if the voter wants to expedite the application process, the voter may place the following information in the request for ballot:

1. The name of the registered voter;
2. The address of the voter's residence;
3. The voter's social security number;
4. The address to mail the ballot outside the county (this applies only when the reason for voting by mail involves that the voter will be outside of the county during early voting and on election day);
5. The election the voter wishes to participate in. If the election involves a primary, the political party in which the voter wishes to participate;
6. The reason the voter wishes to vote absentee; and
7. The voter’s signature. (If the voter is unable to sign his/her name, contact the Election Commission office for details.)

A request that contains this information will be treated and processed as an application for ballot, and a ballot will be mailed to the voter.
A registered voter may request an application for by-mail ballot no earlier than ninety (90) days before the election and no later than seven (7) days before the election. To be processed for the next election, the application must be received by the election commission no later than five (5) days before the election.

In order to be counted the ballot must be received by election day. The ballot must be returned by mail and not hand delivered.