The Tennessean (Feb. 14, 2019) — Two Republican lawmakers, with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union, are setting out to make it simpler for people with felony convictions to regain their right to vote, a process more arduous in Tennessee than in most states.
Tennessee’s rights restoration laws are among the strictest in the country.
It is one of 12 states that requires individuals with felony convictions to complete multiple steps beyond serving their sentence in order to have their voting rights restored, and is the only state requiring the payment of outstanding child support obligations in order to do so.
“We’ve put too many hurdles in place,” said Rep. Michael Curcio, R-Dickson, who is sponsoring HB 547. Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, filed corresponding SB 589.
