Legislation To Require Immigration Status Check Of Potential Voters Passes Senate Committee

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

A bill that would clean up voter rolls and aid in election integrity in Tennessee passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 0137 (SB0137), sponsored by State Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28), 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. It also requires the coordinator of elections to compare the statewide voter registration database with the department of safety database to ensure non-U.S. citizens are not registered to vote in the state.

There is no current requirement that the State Coordinator of Elections do any type of immigration status check on potential voters to ensure that they are legally allowed to vote in the United States.

Hensley introduced the bill and an amendment that would change the effect date from immediate to July 1, 2024.

The floor was opened for questions, and when there were none, the chairman called for a vote.

Ayes prevailed with only Senator Sara Kyle (D-Memphis-District 30) and Senator Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville-District 21) voting against it. Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston-District 12) was not present for the meeting.

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

The House version of the bill, HB0835, sponsored by Representative Bryan Richey (R-Maryville-District 20), is scheduled be heard by the House Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee on March 29th.

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