Bill To Require Immigration Status Check Of Potential Voters Clears Another Hurdle In TN House

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

The House Local Government Committee has passed a bill that would require all potential voters to be checked for immigration status. 

House Bill 0835 (HB0835), sponsored by Representative Bryan Richey (R-Maryville-District 20), states, “As introduced, requires the coordinator of elections to compare the statewide voter registration database with those of other relevant state agencies and county records when compiling information to distribute to the county elections commissions for purposes of purging voters who have moved; requires the coordinator of elections to 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. – Amends TCA Section 2-2-106 and Section 2-2-141.”

The legislation was passed with a voice vote in which ayes prevailed. Representatives Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15), Larry Miller (D-Memphis-District 88), Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar-District 80), and Dwayne Thompson (D-Cordova-District 96) asked to be recorded as voting no.

Due to the voice vote, it is unclear how the remainder of the committee members voted on this measure, it is of interest to note that Representatives John Crawford (R-Bristol/Kingsport-District 1) and Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro-District 34), who are members of the Local Government Committee, previously voted against the measure when it was considered in the House Elections and Campaign Finance Subcommittee.

The bill has been referred to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

The companion Senate Bill 0137 (SB0137) was recommended for passage by the Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 28 and was referred to the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

As of publication of this article, neither the House nor the Senate bill has appeared on the calendars of the associated committees. However, The Tennessee Conservative will keep you informed as new information is available.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com