House Bill 202 amends Tennessee election laws to require proof of U.S. citizenship for individuals registering to vote, effective July 1, 2025. The bill mandates that applicants submit original or true copies of specific documents, such as birth certificates or naturalization papers, alongside their registration forms. Additionally, the coordinator of elections is tasked with monthly comparisons of the statewide voter registration database with the Department of Safety database to identify non-citizens. If a registered voter's citizenship cannot be verified before early voting, they will only be allowed to vote using a provisional ballot, which will not be counted until their citizenship is confirmed.

The bill also outlines procedures for addressing cases where there is evidence that a registered voter may not be a U.S. citizen. County election commissions must notify these voters and request proof of citizenship within a specified timeframe. If the voter fails to provide the necessary documentation, they may be purged from the voter registration database, although their voting history will be maintained. The bill includes provisions for appealing such decisions to the state election commission, which will conduct hearings and make final determinations regarding the voter's citizenship status. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the confidentiality of documentation related to citizenship verification, with the exception of public records indicating a voter is not a U.S. citizen.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-2-141