Tennessee Blocks Half a Million People From Voting in 2024 Election
Story by Aliss Higham • 20h
Nearly 500,000 people in Tennessee will be barred from voting in the upcoming presidential election, with critics claiming new electoral rules will likely disproportionately affect Black and Latinx people.
Those convicted of certain felony crimes in Tennessee (tried in any U.S. state) have previously been able to vote only if they had been pardoned or had their voting rights restored. Felons convicted of extremely serious crimes, such as first-degree murder, may or may not have voting rights restored—depending on the year in which the conviction took place, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
In the summer of 2023, state election officials perceived a Tennessee Supreme Court decision as mandating that anyone with felony convictions seeking reinstatement of their voting rights must either have their complete citizenship rights reinstated by a judge or prove they have been pardoned. Newsweek has contacted the Secretary of State for Tennessee for comment and clarification via the form on its website.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tennessee-blocks-half-a-million-people-from-voting-in-2024-election/ar-BB1hceKa?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=547a8929ef11409e9ec6886ef9f6d146&ei=26