It undermines public faith in elections if people who are not U.S. citizens are allowed to vote. It also dilutes the voting rights of those who are legally entitled to cast ballots.
So the Tennessee Senate was right to vote to let counties require reasonable proof that a person is a citizen before he or she may register to vote. The original bill would only have required would-be voters to check a box claiming they are citizens, without real verification.
Fortunately, the bill was amended before it passed to provide for verification. Those who register may provide one of several different documents — such as a birth certificate or a passport — to verify citizenship.
Democrats cast all 12 “no” votes against the bill, but fortunately it passed anyway.
Maintaining the integrity of elections is a proper job of government.