Felon Voting Rights Blocked by Tennessee’s Gun Requirement Law \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Tennessee election officials are challenging a judge’s decision that restored the voting rights of four individuals with felony convictions who are ineligible to possess firearms. Citing a new law that ties gun rights restoration to voting rights, the state argues that full citizenship rights, including gun ownership, must be restored before voting rights can be reinstated. The legal battle continues as the voter registration deadline has passed, complicating these individuals’ path to vote this fall.
Tennessee Voting Rights Restoration Blocked: Quick Looks
- Tennessee officials object to a ruling restoring voting rights to felons whose gun rights remain restricted.
- A new state law requires full citizenship rights, including gun rights, before voting rights can be reinstated.
- Four individuals in Tennessee face obstacles in registering to vote, despite a court ruling.
- Advocates argue the law misinterprets prior rulings and could disenfranchise thousands.
- The case is part of a broader legal battle over voting rights for felons in the state.
Deep Look:
Tennessee’s election officials are pushing back against a recent court ruling that restored the voting rights of four individuals convicted of felonies. The state argues that under a new law passed earlier this year, individuals must regain their full citizenship rights, which includes the right to possess firearms, before they are eligible to vote. The state’s objections come at a critical time, with the voter registration deadline having just passed for the upcoming elections, making it increasingly difficult for the affected individuals to secure their voting rights.
New Legal Obstacles for Felon Voting Rights
The core issue stems from a new Tennessee law that ties the restoration of voting rights to the restoration of gun rights. In July 2023, state officials declared that people convicted of felonies must have their “full rights of citizenship” restored before they can vote. This includes gun rights, which many individuals with felony convictions are ineligible to regain. Voting rights advocates argue that the law significantly complicates an already difficult process and risks disenfranchising more people than intended.
In October 2023, Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton ruled that the voting rights of four individuals should be restored, even though they remain unable to own firearms due to their felony convictions. The judge based her decision on state case law that allows for the restoration of voting rights even if gun rights remain restricted.
State’s Objections and Legal Arguments
The state, represented by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, filed a motion arguing that the judge’s ruling misinterprets the law. The state contends that restoring only part of someone’s citizenship rights, such as voting, does not align with the full restoration required by law. According to the motion, “The definition of ‘full’ does not change to include fewer rights when a felon commits a more serious crime. Full means full.”
Additionally, the state has delayed the approval or rejection of voting rights restoration applications for the four individuals involved in the case. This legal limbo leaves their eligibility to vote this fall in doubt, as the voter registration deadline has already passed.
Broader Implications for Voting Rights Restoration
Tennessee’s voting rights restoration process, already known for its complexity, faces heightened scrutiny with this new law. Voting rights advocates argue that the state’s decision to tie voting rights to gun rights creates an unnecessary barrier, particularly for those convicted of felony drug offenses or violent crimes, which result in lifetime gun bans. The Sentencing Project reported that over 470,000 Tennesseans are disenfranchised due to felony convictions, representing 9% of the state’s voting-age population. For African Americans, the rate is more than 21%.
Advocates warn that the state’s current approach could lead to permanent disenfranchisement for many people, far beyond what the law intended for those convicted of particularly serious crimes. These legal obstacles are seen by many as part of a broader trend to make it more difficult for individuals with felony convictions to regain their right to vote.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
The case involving these four individuals is among the first to challenge the state’s gun rights requirement for voting in court. The outcome could set a precedent for how Tennessee handles voting rights restoration in the future.
A separate lawsuit filed in 2020 is still working its way through the courts, targeting broader issues in Tennessee’s voting rights restoration system. Plaintiffs argue that the system lacks clarity, does not provide criteria for denials, and offers no path for appeal when applications are rejected. This lawsuit is set to go to trial in December and could have significant implications for how Tennessee restores voting rights to felons.
Republican Stance on Voting Rights Restoration
Earlier this year, Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers deferred making any changes to the voting rights restoration process, deciding to revisit the issue after the 2024 election. Some prominent GOP leaders argued that individuals who break the law should not expect to retain their voting rights, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consequences for serious crimes.
Despite this stance, Republican legislators agreed to study the broader issue of citizenship rights and potentially propose changes in the next legislative session. However, for the upcoming elections, the current law remains in place, leaving thousands of individuals disenfranchised.
Conclusion
As Tennessee officials continue to challenge the restoration of voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies, the legal battle over citizenship rights in the state is far from over. With the voter registration deadline now passed, the prospects for those affected to cast their ballots this fall have dimmed. As the case moves forward, its outcome could have far-reaching consequences for voting rights restoration and the lives of thousands of disenfranchised Tennesseans.
