House Bill 616 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the restoration of citizenship rights, particularly the right to vote for individuals convicted of infamous crimes. The bill modifies the qualifications for voter registration by allowing individuals who have completed their sentences, including incarceration, probation, or parole, to have their voting rights restored. It introduces new language that specifies that a person’s right of suffrage can be restored due to the expiration of their sentence, and it clarifies the documentation required to prove eligibility for voter registration, including certificates of voting rights restoration issued by relevant authorities.

Additionally, the bill removes existing language that restricts voting rights based on monetary obligations, ensuring that individuals cannot be denied the right to vote due to unpaid civil or criminal penalties. It also establishes a process for individuals to receive a certificate of voting rights restoration upon completion of their sentence, which serves as proof of their eligibility to register to vote. The bill emphasizes the importance of verifying eligibility with the state coordinator of elections before allowing individuals with infamous crime convictions to register, thereby streamlining the process for restoring voting rights in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-2-102, 2-2-116, 2-2-139(a), 2-2-139, 2-2-139(b), 2-19-143, 40-29-101, 40-29-105(b)(2), 40-29-105, 40-29-202, 40-29-203