July 1, 1971, was the day that the 26th amendment was ratified; making the legal age to vote 18. For over 50 years, Americans have been able to vote as they please depending on the state they live in. Here in Tennessee, we have an open system. This means you do not have to register with a party when you register to vote.
At least it was until HB0828 and SB0978 were passed on May 24, 2023. What are these bills? As stated on the Tennessee General Assembly website: “Election Laws – As enacted, requires the officer of elections at each polling place to post a sign on election day informing voters that it is against the law to vote in a political party’s primary without being a bona fide member of or affiliated with that political party, or to declare allegiance to that party without the intent to affiliate with that party. – Amends TCA Title 2″
Introduced by 34th district Representative Tim Rudd in Jan of 2022, the bill has caused a lot of discourse among people in the state as many see it as voter suppression. The bill has already had its second legal challenge after being thrown out by Judge Eli Richardson in March of this year. The lawsuit started when former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ash, Democrat Phil Lawson and the League of Women Voters of Tennessee came together to make the lawsuit citing it as voter suppression.
Judge Richardson threw the suit out days before the March 5th primary in the state, writing that the plaintiffs didn’t prove that the law confused any voters or suppressed turnout. In the new lawsuit, brought up May 1st, more people are now joining in. These plaintiffs are voters that claim they were affected because of the new law.
Jackson native Gabe Hart spoke to Knox News about his experience during Super Tuesday. “I was told directly by my local DA that I should be concerned about being prosecuted. I was called a felon by a local elected official and I was otherwise worried about both voting and speaking my mind because of this law,” Gabe said.
One of the main issues many have with the law, besides the threat of legal action, is the use of the term “bona fide”. What does that mean? It doesn’t state in the law what it means to be a “bona fide” member of a certain political party, so many people are confused as to what a “bona fide” voter is.
According to Tennessee Republican Party bylaws, a “bona fide” voter is one that, “Prior to his filing, he shall have voted in the last three Statewide Republican primaries in his county of residence during those primary elections. Younger Republicans who may not have been of legal age for three primary elections must obtain approval from the state Chairman.”
State Democratic bylaws also use the term “bona fide,” stating “A bona fide Democrat is defined as an individual whose record of public service, actions, accomplishment, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrates that they are faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States and of the State of Tennessee.”
If you would like information about voting go to https://sos.tn.gov/elections/guides/how-to-register-to-vote or to register to vote go to https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/ and get registered today!
