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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
On Wednesday, May 21, Governor Bill Lee signed into law a bill which will work to prevent voter registrations by illegal immigrants and convicted felons in the state.
After initially being placed behind the budget during this year’s legislative session due to an $800,000 fiscal note, a death sentence for many bills, HB0069 was revived as the sponsors were able to obtain the funding, largely through available grant programs.
According to Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) who carried the legislation in the House, the bill will establish “major safeguards to strengthen election integrity in Tennessee” by creating new verification systems and requiring visual distinctions on the face of photo IDs.
The new law creates three primary directives, to be accomplished by January 1, 2028:
– Requires the Secretary of State to work with local and state election officials to create a secure electronic portal for county election administrators to verify United States citizenship and voter eligibility.
– Requires the coordinator of elections, in collaboration with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, to create a similar portal to verify whether an individual is ineligible to vote due to a felony conviction.
– Requires a visual distinction, such as a color or font on the face of a photo identification license, to differentiate the class designation for the purpose of voting.
The processes enacted by this legislation would theoretically ensure the Secretary of State’s Office will be able to adequately provide information as to who can and cannot register to vote before an individual arrives at the ballot box and would prevent them from committing a crime by voting when they are not legally allowed.
The bill passed the House 77-18 and cleared the Senate 32-0 where it was carried by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27). With the Governor’s signature to make it official, the new law will now make its way into Tennessee code.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
