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 regain their voting rights. It introduces new language that clarifies the conditions under which a person can register to vote after being convicted of an infamous crime, including the requirement for a certificate of voting rights restoration issued by relevant authorities. Additionally, the bill specifies that the inability to pay monetary obligations will not further infringe on a person's right to vote.

Key changes include the deletion of outdated language regarding the restoration of voting rights and the addition of provisions that allow individuals to petition for the restoration of their full citizenship rights upon the completion of their sentences. The bill also emphasizes that individuals who have been convicted of certain serious crimes, such as first-degree murder and aggravated rape, will remain ineligible to vote even after serving their sentences. Overall, House Bill 616 seeks to streamline the process for restoring voting rights and ensure that individuals are not unjustly disenfranchised due to their past convictions.

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