Bill > SB0347

This bill amends Tennessee election law by introducing more specific requirements for signatures on election-related documents such as petitions, absentee ballot applications, and voter registration forms. The bill defines "election-related documents" and provides a detailed definition of what constitutes a valid "signature" for these documents, which must be in legible English alphabetic characters and can include initials with a full last name or, for voters unable to write, an "X" mark with a witness providing the full name. The bill also establishes stricter rules for petition signatures, requiring voters to include their residential address as shown on their voter registration card, with specific guidelines about when an address might invalidate a signature. Additionally, the bill places responsibility on voters to update their registration information when they move and mandates that county election commissions compare petition signatures to voter registration records, requiring signatures to bear sufficient resemblance for a lay person to recognize them as written by the same person. The bill prohibits election officials from using extra evidence like oral testimony to verify signatures and makes these changes effective from July 1, 2025, with the stated purpose of maintaining current and correct voter registration records and facilitating easier signature verification for election officials.

Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0347&ga=114