Tennessee has the most secure elections in America, according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation.

Heritage published its 2026 Election Integrity Scorecard last week, and Tennessee topped the list, coming in first for the fifth consecutive year with a score of 87 out of 100. Arkansas followed close behind in second with a score of 84, Alabama came in third at 83, Louisiana fourth at 81, and Florida fifth at 78. Hawaii finished dead last with a score of 22 and California barely avoided the bottom spot with a score of 26. Heritage points to two policies driving this year's top performers: stronger citizenship-verification laws and state bans on foreign funding of elections and ballot initiatives.

Heritage explained that the purpose of the report is to help voters, state legislators, and election officials ensure that their state is following best-practice recommendations, relying on the foundational principles of free and fair elections:

Every citizen's vote is sacred. The vote is how we guarantee that our government remains of the people, by the people, and for the people. Americans need and deserve elections that they can trust and have confidence in the final results. Legitimate voters should be able to vote in privacy without being harassed, secure in the knowledge that their vote will not be lost, stolen, altered, or negated by a vote cast by an illegitimate voter. Americans need and deserve a secure and transparent system in which fraud can be easily detected, and where false allegations can be dispelled.
 
As a reminder, however, even the best laws are not worth much if responsible officials do not enforce them rigorously. It is up to the citizens of each state to make sure that their elected and appointed public officials do just that.
 
We're incredibly proud that Tennessee has become a national leader on election reform, topping the charts across the board.

"This ranking reflects the tireless work of our county election commissions and the General Assembly's commitment to protecting the ballot box. In Tennessee, it's easy to vote and hard to cheat – and that's exactly how it should be,” Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett explained following the 2025 #1 ranking.

Heritage has already announced that the 2027 scorecard will weigh four new benchmarks: proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting, active enforcement and prosecution of election crimes, dedicated state election fraud divisions, and regular compliance audits.

"This recognition reflects the dedication and professionalism of election officials across all 95 counties. We work year-round to ensure every vote is counted accurately and securely, and it's gratifying to see that effort acknowledged nationally," Mark Goins, Tennessee's Coordinator of Elections, shared.

This week, Heritage also released its 2026 Education Freedom Report Card, and Tennessee ranked seventh in the nation overall, with standout marks in return on investment (second) and academic transparency (fourth).

Tennessee spends the eighth-least per pupil of any state in the country, $13,027 when adjusted for cost of living, while ranking sixteenth nationally on combined NAEP math and reading scores. Tennessee is proving that spending less and regulating less doesn’t mean educating less.

Heritage's recommendations for climbing in next year’s education scorecard are straightforward: grow ESA participation, fund ESAs through the state's regular formula rather than as a separate line item, and cut back regulations on the private schools that accept ESA students.

These results are proof positive that conservative leadership rooted in common-sense reform delivers results. FACT will continue to advocate for the policies that keep Tennessee's elections secure, and for the reforms that will close the education gaps that remain. Will you join us in that goal?