AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to voter registration.
Summary
SB2124 amends Tennessee election law to require county election commissions to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database in voter registration screening. Before placing any applicant on the voter rolls, a county election commission would have to check the applicant through SAVE to help ensure that non-U.S. citizens are not registered to vote in the county.
The bill also requires county election commissions to run the county’s entire voter registration list through SAVE at least once each quarter. The stated purpose is to use the expanded and now no-cost access to SAVE, including batch verification, to identify ineligible registrants and keep the voter rolls current. The act would take effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, by adding a new subsection to Section 2-2-141 imposing mandatory SAVE checks on both new voter registration applicants and existing county voter rolls. It would shift county election commissions into a more active verification role and create an ongoing quarterly review obligation. The practical effect would be to add a state-level voter eligibility screening requirement focused on citizenship status, affecting county election officials, voter registration administration, and individuals applying to register or already registered to vote.
Sentiment
The bill text reflects a clear pro-enforcement and election-integrity posture, emphasizing the prevention of non-U.S. citizens from appearing on the voter rolls. Because there were no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the language of the bill alone, the measure appears to be framed as a straightforward administrative safeguard rather than a contested policy compromise.
Contention
The main point of contention inherent in the bill is the use of SAVE as a citizenship-screening tool for voter registration, especially the requirement to check every applicant and to periodically recheck the full voter file. Supporters would likely view this as a necessary safeguard against ineligible registration, while critics may raise concerns about administrative burden on counties, the accuracy or completeness of SAVE data, and the risk of erroneous disenfranchisement if lawful voters are flagged incorrectly. No specific individuals or groups are identified in the provided record as taking these positions.