Columbia, Tennessee Public Records

Acceptable forms of identification for registration include a Tennessee driver license or ID card number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. At the polls, the state requires voters to present valid photo ID—acceptable forms include a Tennessee driver license, U.S. Passport, military ID, or a photo ID issued by federal or Tennessee state government. Municipal elections here follow a staggered schedule, with the Mayor and Board of Mayor and Aldermen serving four-year terms; the next Columbia municipal elections are scheduled for November 2025, with mayoral and aldermanic seats on the ballot. Voters can locate their assigned polling place through the Election Commission website or by calling the office directly. The county operates approximately 20 polling locations on election day, and early voting is available at the Election Commission office and satellite locations for two weeks prior to Election Day. Tennessee law makes certain election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists (excluding Social Security numbers and driver license numbers) are available upon written request and payment of fees (TCA § 2-2-145). Campaign finance disclosures are filed with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance at https://www.tn.gov/tref and searchable online. Candidate nominating petitions and qualifying papers are public, and precinct-level election results are posted by the Election Commission after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Maury County recorded approximately 55,000 total votes cast with turnout near 68% of registered voters. The county favored Republican candidates by a margin of approximately 68% to 30%. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters here will decide several significant races: Tennessee's gubernatorial election (Governor Bill Lee's term expires in 2027, making 2026 a gubernatorial election year), all seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives (District 64 covers Columbia), one Tennessee State Senate seat (District 23), and all Maury County constitutional officers including County Mayor, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, Sheriff, Assessor, and Circuit and General Sessions Court Clerks. Tennessee does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026. Absentee voting by mail is available for Tennessee voters who meet statutory qualifications including age 60 or older, hospitalization, caretaker for a hospitalized person, full-time student outside the county, election official, observer, or military/overseas voter (TCA § 2-6-201). Early voting in person is available to all registered Tennessee voters without excuse during the designated early voting period. Applications for absentee-by-mail ballots must be submitted to the Maury County Election Commission with appropriate documentation and returned by the close of polls on Election Day.