NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s 95 county election administrators can require “satisfactory proof of citizenship” from people registering to vote under a bill approved Monday by senators on a 20-12 vote.
Opponents warned the bill could lead to “racial profiling,” but supporters said it better protects the “integrity of elections.”
Current law already makes it a crime punishable by 2 to 12 years to deceive election officials about citizenship, but proponents say it is confusing and not really enforced. The bill sets out a list of six documents including birth certificates and passports that would be acceptable as evidence of citizenship.
Senators acted on the House version of the bill. Because it was amended, the measure now goes back to the House where members will decide whether to go along with Senate changes.