Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-12-209 (2026)

• (a)
  • (1) The state shall pay to the general fund of every county in which the administrator of elections is or becomes certified under § 2-11-202(b), the sum of eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000) in the manner set out in subsection (b) of this section.
  • (2) In years in which the secretary of state is required to reduce the department of state's budget, the secretary is authorized to reduce any appropriations authorized by this section up to nine percent (9%).

• (b) The state payments to a county made pursuant to this section shall be paid quarterly in amounts of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) per quarter.
  • (1) If an administrator becomes certified at some time other than the beginning of a quarter, such payments to the county shall commence at the beginning of the quarter next following the administrator's certification.
  • (2) If an administrator in a county receiving quarterly payments under this section loses certification for whatever reason, such administrator shall have six (6) months from the date of such loss to regain such certification. If the administrator has not done so at the end of six (6) months, state payments to the county pursuant to this section shall cease until the quarter next following the quarter such administrator regains certification.
  • (3) If the office of administrator in a county receiving quarterly payments under this section becomes vacant for whatever reason, the new administrator shall have six (6) months from the date of taking office to become certified. If the new administrator has not become certified at the end of six (6) months, state payments to the county pursuant to this section shall cease until the quarter next following the quarter such new administrator becomes certified.

• (c)
  • (1) No county receiving payments pursuant to this section shall reduce the total amount of funds appropriated to such county's election commission below the total amount appropriated to such commission in previous comparable election and non-election years.
  • (2)
    • (A) If a county election commission is of the opinion that the county legislative body has not appropriated an amount of funds for its budget that is comparable to previous years as prohibited by subdivision (c)(1), it shall, by petitioning the state election coordinator, have the right to a hearing on such matter before an administrative law judge in the office of the secretary of state.
    • (B) Within ten (10) days of receiving such petition, the state election coordinator shall set a hearing date, which date shall be within thirty (30) days of receiving the petition. The county mayor and county election commission shall be notified of the time, place and date of the hearing by registered mail, return receipt requested, at least ten (10) days prior to such hearing.
    • (C) The hearing shall be held before an administrative law judge from the office of the secretary of state. None of the parties involved in the hearing shall be required to have an attorney present.
    • (D) The judge shall examine all evidence produced at the hearing, including the total appropriations made to the election commission of such county in previous comparable election or non-election years. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the judge shall determine whether the total amount of funds appropriated to the election commission of such county is comparable to the amount it appropriated to such commission in previous election or non-election years.
    • (E) If the judge determines that the total amount appropriated to the county election commission is not comparable to previous years, and such county is receiving state payments pursuant to this section, the judge shall so certify to the state official responsible for authorizing such payments. Upon receiving certification from the judge pursuant to this subdivision (c)(2)(E), such state official shall cease authorization of payment to such county effective the quarter next following the one in which such certification is received.
  • (3) In addition to the remedy set out in subdivision (c)(2), the county election commission of any county receiving state payments under this section which so reduces election appropriations shall also be authorized to seek a writ of mandamus to compel the county legislative body to comply with this subsection (c).

Acts 1986, ch. 930, § 1; 1996, ch. 1081, §§ 6, 7; 2003 , ch. 90, § 2; 2003 , ch. 355, § 54.