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SB 2204

Election Laws - As introduced, authorizes the electronic portal to be created by the coordinator of elections prior to January 1, 2028, to access data from the systematic alien verification for entitlements (SAVE) program if the United States department of homeland security, United States citizenship and immigration services makes such data available via a secure web service. - Amends TCA Title 2.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee authorizes its election coordinator to access federal immigration verification data via secure portal by 2028 if DHS makes it available, enabling citizenship checks for voter eligibility.

Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2204

Legislative bill overview

SB 2204 authorizes Tennessee's election coordinator to create an electronic portal that would access federal immigration verification data (the SAVE program) to check voter eligibility, contingent on the Department of Homeland Security making this data available through a secure connection. The bill sets a January 1, 2028 deadline for establishing this system and amends Tennessee's election code.

Why is this important

Voter eligibility verification is a core election administration function, and this bill addresses whether states can access federal citizenship databases to cross-check voter rolls. The measure reflects ongoing debates about election security, documentation requirements, and federal-state coordination on immigration data—issues that have become increasingly contentious in recent years.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy and data security concerns: Linking election databases to federal immigration records raises questions about data protection, unauthorized access risks, and how personal information will be safeguarded across systems
  • Implementation feasibility: The bill's success depends entirely on DHS voluntarily providing secure data access; it's unclear whether federal cooperation will materialize or what technical/legal barriers might exist
  • Scope and effectiveness: Critics may question whether the SAVE program (designed for employment verification) is the most reliable citizenship verification tool, and whether this targets a real problem or creates administrative burden for minimal voter fraud prevention

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

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