Voting Rights

"The right to vote freely for the candidate of one's choice is of the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government.”-- Chief Justice Earl Warren, Reynolds vs. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964)

Voting is a fundamental right that is the cornerstone of our democracy. ACLU-TN is committed to ensuring that every citizen has the right to vote.

ACLU-TN’s work on voting rights focuses on felony re-enfranchisement. The ACLU-TN Right to Vote (RTV) Campaign seeks to link former felons to their right to vote as a part of its larger commitment to create a functioning, productive, and secure community of people whose civil liberties and civil rights are protected.

Highlights of our work include:

• Increasing public awareness about why it is important to restore the right to vote to former felons;

• Passing legislation that streamlines the process for former felons to have their right to vote restored;

• Alerting former felons, inmates preparing to complete their sentence, and agencies serving formerly incarcerated individuals, about how former felons can restore have their right to vote restored; and

• Engaging in litigation to remove administrative and legislative barriers preventing former felons from restoring their right to vote.

Events

October 20, 2012: Operation Wake-Up and Vote Early (W.A.V.E.) Student Rally

Press Releases

October 25, 2012: ACLU-TN Disappointed with State Appeals Court Ruling Upholding Photo ID Law

October 16, 2012: Local, State and National Organizations Join Forces to Protect Access to the Ballot Box

March 5, 2012: ACLU-TN Opens Toll-Free Voter Hotline and Online Voting Resource Center for March 6 Primary Voters Experiencing Problems at the Polls Urged to Call

November 10, 2010: ACLU Challenges Tennessee Voter Re-Enfranchisement Law - Law Amounts To Illegal Poll Tax

November 1, 2010: Toll-Free Election Day Hotline Opens For Voters Experiencing Problems at the Polls

October 12, 2010: ACLU-TN Provides Voters' Rights Cards and Election Day Hotline to Assist Voters

October 5, 2010: Ballot Secrecy Protected - ACLU of Tennessee Successfully Protects Voters from Being Forced to Reveal Votes

October 22, 2008 - ACLU-TN Distributing Voters' Rights Cards, Providing Assistance for Voters on Election Day

September 29, 2008 - ACLU-TN Survey Reveals Election Officials Lack Knowledge of Voting Rules

September 24, 2008 - Retired RVers’ Right to Vote Restored in Time for November Election

September 23, 2008 - ACLU Disappointed in Court Decision Upholding TN's Disenfranchisement Law: Group Says Payment Provision Is A Modern Day 'Poll Tax'

February 6, 2007: ACLU-TN to Expand Efforts to Restore Voting Rights to Former Felons

August 16, 2006: ACLU-TN Announces "Get Your Right to Vote Back" Town Hall Meeting in Chattanooga on Monday, August 21 (24 KB)

August 10, 2006: ACLU-TN Announces "Get Your Right to Vote Back" Town Hall Meeting in Memphis on Tuesday, August 15 (25 KB)

August 4, 2006: ACLU-TN Kicks Off "Get Your Right to Vote Back" Town Hall Meetings Across State (23 KB)

May 17, 2006: Tennessee Legislature Simplifies Voting Restoration for Ex-Felons

Legislative Alerts

ACLU-TN Legislative Highlights: Voting Rights, 106th Tennessee General Assembly, 2009-2010

March 29, 2010: Contact legislators today--our freedoms at stake this week!

March 22, 2010: Your Voice Needed Now on Immigrants’ Rights, Privacy, Reproductive Freedom, Women’s Rights, Voting Rights & Access to Justice

March 15, 2010: Immigrants Rights, LGBT Rights, Privacy, Reproductive Freedom and More - Your Voice Needed!

March 8, 2010: Stand Up for Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights & Students’ & Immigrants’ Rights This Week

March 2, 2010: Protect Reproductive Freedom & Voting Rights This Week

May 4, 2009: Legislative Alert: Privacy, LGBT Rights, Religious Freedom, Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights and Equal Treatment Under the Law at Stake

April 27, 2009: Legislative Alert: Free Speech, LGBT Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Immigrants' Rights and More

April 13, 2009: Legislative Alert: Contact Your Legislators on Free Speech, LGBT Rights, Religious Freedom, Immigrants' Rights and More

April 6, 2009: Legislative Alert: Busy Week at the Legislature - Please Contact Legislators ASAP

March 30, 2009: Legislative Alert: Contact Your Legislators for Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights, Access to Justice and Students' and Women's Rights

May 9, 2008: ACLU-TN Chart of 2008 TGA Bills Related to Voting Rights

April 25, 2006: Restoration of voting rights - tell your representative to vote FOR HB1722

March 18, 2005: Restoring Ex-Felons' Voting Rights - Urge Your Legislators to Vote Yes by Tuesday

Past Events

May 31, 2012: Voter Suppression Town Hall Meeting

Knoxville -- April 8, 2008: Re-entry and Restoration of Voting Rights: Dismantling Felon Disenfranchisement Laws in Tennessee

Nashville-- Thursday, May 3, 2007, United Steelworkers Union Hall, 3340 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211
Breaking the Chains: From Jail Cell to Voting Booth
ACLU-TN Right to Vote Conference

Jackson - Thursday, September 7, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
Madison County Agricultural Complex

Jackson "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (24 KB)

Murfreesboro - Wednesday, September 6, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
Patterson Park Community Center

Murfreesboro "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (25 KB)

Clarksville - Tuesday, September 5, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
Clarksville-Montgomery County Board of Education

Clarksville "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (22 KB)

Nashville - Thursday, August 31, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church

Nashville "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (22 KB)

Chattanooga - Monday, August 21, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
Chattanooga Hamilton County Library

Chattanooga "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (22 KB)

Memphis - Tuesday, August 15, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
University of Memphis School of Law

Memphis and Jackson "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (24 KB)

Knoxville - Monday, August 7, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,
Beck Cultural Exchange Center
Johnson City - Tuesday, August 8, 2006, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm,
Johnson City Public Library

Knoxville and Johnson City "Get Your Right to Vote Back" flyer (24 KB)