Knox County Election Commission to begin issuing petitions for City of Knoxville Elections on Monday, March 20
Individuals who wish to run for office in the 2023 City of Knoxville Elections can pick up a petition from the Knox County Election Commission beginning Monday, March 20th, 2023. The offices on the ballot will be:
- Mayor
- City Council At-Large, Seat A
- City Council At-Large, Seat B
- City Council At-Large, Seat C
- City Council, District 5
- Municipal Judge
All terms of office are four years.
The qualifications for each of the offices listed above are:
KNOXVILLE CITY MAYOR
• Must meet basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101; and
• Shall have attained the age of twenty-five (25) years at the beginning of the term
• Be a resident of the City of Knoxville for one (1) year next preceding the deadline for qualifying for election and continue to reside therein during the term of office
KNOXVILLE CITY COUNCILPERSONS
• Must meet basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101; and
• Shall have attained the age of twenty-one (21) years at the beginning of the term
• Be a resident of the City of Knoxville for one (1) year prior to taking office
• If representing a District, must reside in the district for one (1) year prior to taking office and shall continue to live therein during the period of service
• No person shall be eligible to serve in the office of councilmember who holds any other elective public office or who is a City of Knoxville employee
KNOXVILLE MUNICIPAL JUDGE
• Must meet basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101; and
• Be at least thirty (30) years old
• Be a resident of the City of Knoxville for three (3) years immediately prior to election
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee
The requirements as set forth in TCA (Tennessee Code Annotated) 8-18-101 are:
All persons eighteen (18) years or older who are citizens of the United States and of this state, and have been inhabitants of the state, county, district, or circuit for the period required by the constitution and laws of the state, are qualified to hold office under the authority of this state except:
(1) Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
(2) Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
(3) Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
(4) Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
(5) Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.
The Election schedule for the 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election is as follows:
- Monday, March 20, 2023 – First day to pick up a nominating petition from either KCEC office
- Thursday, May 18, 2023 at NOON – Candidate Qualifying Deadline
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at NOON – Candidate Withdrawal Deadline
- Wednesday, May 31, 2023 – First day to request an absentee ballot
- Monday, July 31, 2023 – Final day to register to vote before election
- Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – First day of Early Voting period
- Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – Final day to request an absentee ballot
- Thursday, August 24, 2023 – Final day of Early Voting period
- Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – Election Day
In the City Council elections, the top two vote getters in the primary move on to the General Election.
In both the Mayor and Municipal Judge elections, the top two vote getters move on to the General Election UNLESS one candidate receives 50% plus one, in which case only the top vote getter moves on to the General Election.
The 2023 City of Knoxville General Election will be on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
For more information, visit https://knoxcounty.org/election/ or call the Knox County Election Commission at 865-215-2480.
