NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Fear of contracting the coronavirus doesn't meet medical criteria for voting by mail in Tennessee, state officials said Tuesday.
The determination comes as the state recommends preparations as though all 1.4 million registered voters 60 and older will cast mail-in ballots in the August primary within its pandemic election contingency plan.
The document was prepared by the state Division of Elections, dated April 23, and obtained by the AP this week. “In consultation with the Attorney General’s office the fear of getting ill does not fall under the definition of ill,” Elections Coordinator Mark Goins told The Associated Press in a statement Tuesday about the viral outbreak.