Tennessee House Bill HB1069

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/23
• Refer: 2/2/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to voters.

Impact

The introduction of HB1069 is likely to impact the administrative aspects of voter registration and the management of voter data across the state. By limiting the amount of personally identifiable information required on voter registration forms, the bill could reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud, thus potentially increasing public confidence in the electoral process. Additionally, this change may streamline the processing of voter registrations, allowing for more efficient management by local election commissions as they adapt their processes to align with the new regulations.

Summary

House Bill 1069 is proposed legislation aimed at amending the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding voter identification protocols. Specifically, the bill seeks to modify the existing requirements related to Social Security numbers on voter registration forms. The primary change involves replacing the requirement for full Social Security numbers with a stipulation that only the last four digits must be provided. This amendment is intended to enhance security and privacy for voters while still maintaining a level of identification necessary for election processes.

Contention

Despite the bill's intent to enhance voter security, it is not without points of contention. Critics may argue that reducing the requirement to only the last four digits of a Social Security number may compromise the detail of identification checks during the voting process. There could be concerns regarding the balance between protecting individual privacy and ensuring that only eligible voters can participate in elections. Proponents of the bill may contend that this amendment strikes an appropriate balance between necessary voter identification and personal privacy protections.