10/05/2026
Tennessee voters will have more than candidates to consider on November 3.
Three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution will appear on the ballot this year, dealing with bail, property taxes, and the rights of crime victims.
Here’s a quick look at what voters will be deciding:
1️⃣ BAIL
The first amendment would expand the circumstances in which a defendant may be held without bail before trial.
In addition to capital offenses, the Constitution would allow bail to be denied in certain serious cases, including terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated r**e, aggravated r**e of a child, grave torture, and certain offenses requiring at least 85% of a sentence to be served.
Judges or magistrates would also be required to state on the record why bail was granted or denied in those cases.
2️⃣ PROPERTY TAXES
The second amendment would prohibit the Tennessee General Assembly from imposing or authorizing a state tax on real, personal, or mixed property.
This would place that prohibition directly into the Tennessee Constitution.
3️⃣ CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS
The third proposal, commonly known as “Marsy’s Law,” would replace the current victims’ rights language in Article I, Section 35.
It would establish a broader set of constitutional protections for crime victims, including rights involving notice and participation in court proceedings, parole proceedings, restitution, protection from harassment and intimidation, notification of an offender’s release or escape, and timely resolution of a case.
It would also require consideration of the safety of victims, their families, and the public in certain post-conviction release decisions.
Each amendment will be presented separately on the ballot for a YES or NO vote.
And remember, Tennessee has a higher threshold for amending its Constitution than simply winning a majority of votes on the amendment. A proposal must receive more YES votes than NO votes, and the number of YES votes must also equal a majority of the total votes cast in the governor’s race.
🇺🇸 Election Day is November 3, and the voter registration deadline is Monday, October 5.
These are changes to our state’s Constitution, not simply ordinary legislation. Take a few minutes before Election Day to read the amendments for yourself and know what you’re voting on.
