Election Laws

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify what actions should be taken if a non-U.S. citizen is found on the voter rolls.

Voter Registration Verification Act

This bill requires Tennessee's county election commissions to use the SAVE program database to verify each new voter registration application and quarterly review all registered voters to ensure only U.S. citizens are on the voting rolls.

What This Bill Does

• Requires county election commissions to verify each new voter registration application using the SAVE program database before adding a person to the voter list.
• Requires county election commissions to check their entire voter registration list at least once every three months using the SAVE program database.

Who It Names or Affects

• County election commissions
• Voters applying for registration

Terms To Know

SAVE program database

A system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to verify immigration status.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a non-U.S. citizen is found on the voter rolls.
• It's unclear how much it will cost counties to implement these checks, though some funding may be provided by the state.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1897
By Warner

SENATE BILL 2124
By Bowling
SB2124
011845
- 1 -

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

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Homeland Security has expanded the
accessibility of the systematic alien verification for entitlements (SAVE) program to verify
immigration status to be available to any state election official, including county election officials;
and
WHEREAS, the cost of accessing that data has been eliminated by the Department of
Homeland Security; and
WHEREAS, the ability to enter batch numbers of registrants is now possible; now,
therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-2-141, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(f)
(1) Each county election commission shall check each applicant for registration
with the systematic alien verification for entitlements (SAVE) program database prior to
placing a registrant on the voter rolls in order to ensure non-United States citizens are
not registered to vote in the county.
(2) At least once each quarter, the county election commission shall check the
county's entire voter registration list through the SAVE program database to ensure that
non-United States citizens are not on the voter rolls in the county.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.