The announcement shocked civil rights advocates, who countered that the state's system is already arduous and this latest requirement will only further worsen voter disenfranchisement throughout the state.
However, in GOP-dominant Tennessee, Republican leaders have repeatedly shrugged off calls to reform the state's voting-rights restoration policy.
Voting rights advocates have argued the legal interpretation was way off-base.
The change, instituted by elections officials in July, has since halted almost all voting rights restorations: More than 60 people were denied and just one person approved.
“It's un-American.”Democratic Rep. Joe Towns likened the state's policy to Jim Crow-era laws that were put in place with the intent of stopping Black people from participating in elections.
Persons:
—, shouldn't, ”, William Lamberth, you’ve, it’s, We’ve, Cameron Sexton, Randy McNally, I’m, they’ve, ” McNally, “, Sen, Raumesh, wasn't, Mark Goins, ” Akbari, “ It's, Joe Towns, Jim Crow
Organizations:
Associated Press, GOP, Republican, Democratic, AP, “, Tennessee Constitution, Assembly, ” Democratic
Locations:
Tenn, Tennessee, Raumesh Akbari, Memphis