Tennessee CapitolNASHVILLE -- A progressive group says Tennessee is one of the worst states nationwide when ranked by the "health of state democracies."
The Volunteer State ranked 49th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in categories of ballot accessibility, representation in state government and influence in the political systems.
The Washington-based Center for American Progress, awarded Tennessee an F grade in accessibility, a D- in representation and a D in influence.
"Too often in this country, access to the freedoms and privileges guaranteed under the Constitution are determined by ZIP code," said Michele Jawando, vice president of Legal Progress at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, in a news release.
"Whether it is access to voting rights, representation in government, or the outsized influence of money in our political system, the opportunity to interact with and participate in democracy is available to some but blocked for many."
She said there are "many factors that make up a healthy democracy that should be evaluated in sum, not in silos, if solutions are going to have an overall effect."
Alabama ranked 51st in the survey while Maine ranked No. 1. Georgia was 34th.
The report focuses on three categories with a total of 22 factors. Tennessee's voter photo ID law and felony "disenfranchisement" were among factors weighing against the Volunteer State.