Tennessee ballot

Tennessee voters will decide Constitutional Amendment #1. The General Assembly placed it on the ballot by approving it in two consecutive legislatures, as the state constitution requires: by majority vote in the 113th General Assembly (Senate Joint Resolution 919) and by a two-thirds vote of each house in the 114th General Assembly (Senate Joint Resolution 25, adopted April 21, 2025). A yes vote amends the constitution and a no vote keeps the current language. Per the Secretary of State, an amendment passes only if it receives more yes votes than no votes and the number of yes votes is more than half of all votes cast in the governor's race.

A yes vote: Per the Attorney General's summary: This amendment changes Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution by allowing a court to hold a defendant without bail before trial when that defendant is accused of: an offense punishable by the death penalty, an act of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture, or any crime for which a convicted person would be required to serve eighty-five percent of their sentence. This amendment requires courts to state on the record the reasons for their decision to grant or deny bail in those cases.

A no vote: Article I, Section 15 stays as it is: all prisoners are bailable by sufficient sureties except for capital offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great.

Tennessee voters will decide Constitutional Amendment #2. The General Assembly placed it on the ballot by approving it in two consecutive legislatures, as the state constitution requires: by majority vote in the 113th General Assembly (House Joint Resolution 81) and by a two-thirds vote of each house in the 114th General Assembly (Senate Joint Resolution 1, adopted April 21, 2025). A yes vote amends the constitution and a no vote keeps the current language. Per the Secretary of State, an amendment passes only if it receives more yes votes than no votes and the number of yes votes is more than half of all votes cast in the governor's race.

A yes vote: Per the Attorney General's summary: This amendment adds text to Article II, section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution that prohibits the Legislature from imposing a State property tax on real, personal, or mixed property.

A no vote: Article II, Section 28 stays as it is, without language barring the Legislature from levying, authorizing or permitting a state tax on real, personal or mixed property.

Tennessee voters will decide Constitutional Amendment #3. The General Assembly placed it on the ballot by approving it in two consecutive legislatures, as the state constitution requires: by majority vote in the 113th General Assembly (House Joint Resolution 94) and by a two-thirds vote of each house in the 114th General Assembly (Senate Joint Resolution 9, adopted April 21, 2025). A yes vote amends the constitution and a no vote keeps the current language. Per the Secretary of State, an amendment passes only if it receives more yes votes than no votes and the number of yes votes is more than half of all votes cast in the governor's race.

A yes vote: Per the Attorney General's summary: This amendment changes Article I, section 35 of the Tennessee Constitution by clarifying existing rights for crime victims and adding new rights. The amendment gives victims new rights: to fair treatment; to be informed about and participate in the parole process; to be protected from harassment, intimidation, and abuse; to be informed of the minimum sentence the convicted criminal will serve, as well as their scheduled release date; and to have their safety, their family's safety, and the public's safety taken into account before any decision is made to release the convicted criminal. The amendment also maintains or clarifies victims' existing rights: to be informed about legal proceedings involving the accused or convicted criminal; to be present at public criminal proceedings; to be informed of any release, transfer, or escape of the accused or convicted criminal; to talk to prosecutors; to make statements about conviction, sentencing, or release of the accused person; to a speedy resolution of the case; to restitution from the convicted criminal; and to be informed of their rights. The amendment does not restrict the powers of prosecutors or courts and does not create a cause of action or claim for damages against the State of Tennessee.

A no vote: Article I, Section 35 keeps its current list of crime victims' rights unchanged; the new rights described in the summary would not be added.