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HB 69

Election Laws - As enacted, requires the coordinator of elections, in collaboration with the department of safety, prior to January 1, 2028, to create a secure, electronic portal through which each county administrator of elections may access information to verify, prior to processing an applicant's application to register to vote, whether the applicant is a United States citizen based upon records on file at the time of issuance of the most recent driver license or identification card or other credential from the department of safety; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 41 and Title 55.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by William Lamberth

Tennessee creates electronic portal for county election officials to verify voter applicant citizenship using driver's license and ID records, effective January 1, 2028.

Pub. Ch. 473
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 69

Legislative bill overview

HB 69 requires Tennessee's election coordinator and department of safety to create an electronic portal by January 1, 2028 that allows county election officials to verify voter registration applicants' U.S. citizenship status using driver's license and identification card records maintained by the state. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law to enable this citizenship verification system.

Why is this important

Voter eligibility verification is a core function of election administration. This bill creates a specific mechanism to cross-reference voter registration applications against existing state identity documents, addressing concerns about non-citizen voter registration while potentially streamlining the verification process for election workers.

Potential points of contention

  • Data privacy concerns: The portal will create systematic access to citizenship data linked to voter applications; questions may arise about data security, who can access the system, and how long records are retained
  • Implementation timeline and costs: Counties must integrate with a new statewide system by 2028; smaller counties may face resource constraints in adapting their processes and technology infrastructure
  • Verification accuracy: Relying on driver's license records as the citizenship verification source may miss legitimate citizens without recent license renewals or those using alternative identification documents, potentially creating false rejections
  • Operational burden: Election officials must use this portal for every registration application, adding procedural steps that could affect processing times

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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