Bill Requiring Immigration Status Check For Voters In Tennessee Becomes Law
Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov & TN Secretary of State
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Tennessee’s elections now have greater protection against illegal aliens being registered to vote in them.
Legislation passed during this year’s General Assembly now requires that election coordinators compare the statewide voter registration database with the Department of Safety database to ensure that there are no illegal aliens registered to vote.
The legislation was sponsored by State Representative Bryan Richey (R-Maryville-District 20) and Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 20).
HB0835/SB0137 was originally brought forth in last year’s General Assembly, but was placed behind the budget in the House Finance, Ways, and Means subcommittee and failed to progress during that session.
Hensley noted that the intention of the bill was to serve as an additional level of security in making sure that no non-U.S. citizen was inadvertently registered to vote. While the law already allowed election coordinators to compare the two databases, the new law will make it a requirement.
Previous Tennessee law stated that the coordinator of elections “may” compare the statewide voter registration database with those of other relevant state agencies and county records for this purpose….and “may” compare the statewide voter registration database with the department of safety database to ensure non-United States citizens are not registered to vote in this state.
The new Tennessee law states that the coordinator of elections “shall” compare the statewide voter registration database with those of other relevant state agencies and county records for this purpose….and “shall” compare the statewide voter registration database with the department of safety database to ensure non-United States citizens are not registered to vote in this state.
The bill was passed in early April, with opposition only coming from Democrats in the legislature. Governor Lee signed it on May 3, making it effective immediately. A public chapter number was assigned on May 13.
