Election Laws

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about enforcement mechanisms for military and overseas voters who rely on electronic voting methods.

Voting Rules Changes

This bill changes Tennessee voting rules to prohibit online voting except for military and overseas voters, disallow post office boxes as valid residential addresses for voting purposes, and require people who move within the state but outside their registered county to vote at their new address.

What This Bill Does

• Prohibits online voting in Tennessee, with exceptions for military members and citizens living abroad.
• Doesn't allow the use of a post office box as a valid residential address for registering to vote or voting.
• Requires a registered voter who moves within Tennessee but outside their registered county to vote based on their current residence.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to use online voting methods
• Individuals using a post office box as their residential address for voting purposes
• Registered voters who move within the state but outside their registered county

Terms To Know

P.O. Box

A postal service address used by individuals or businesses instead of a physical street address.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone moves to another state.
• It is unclear how the changes will be enforced for military and overseas voters who rely on electronic voting methods.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 645
By Crowe

SB0645
000637
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to voting.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-9-110, is amended by adding the
following new subsection (d):
(d) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, voting equipment and machines
must not transmit or receive a ballot, or otherwise be used to cast a ballot, using the
internet, except as authorized for members of the military and overseas citizens in
accordance with chapter 6, part 5 of this title.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 2, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, a county election commission shall
not accept a post office box (P.O. Box) as a valid residential address for purposes of
registering to vote or voting in this state.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-115(a), is amended by deleting
the second sentence and substituting:
If a registered voter has changed residence to another place inside Tennessee but
outside of the county where the voter is registered, the voter must vote in a polling place
in accordance with the voter's current residence.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.