LWVTN Sends Letter Opposing Purging Voter Rolls Based on Non-Voting

The League of Women Voters of Tennessee sent a letter to the TN Secretary of State urging him to consider allowing voters who had been purged from the voter rolls to be allowed to vote by provisional ballot. The League believes the recent court victory on the purging case out of Ohio could be used to ensure every Tennessee voter has the right to vote.

 

October 25, 2016   Honorable Tre Hargett  Tennessee Secretary of State  Elections Department  312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue  7th Floor, Snodgrass Tower  Nashville, TN 37243-1102   Re:  National Voter Registration Act Violation Concerning Purging Voters   Dear Secretary Hargett:   As you are aware, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that Ohio’s practice of purging voters for failure to vote is in violation of the National Voter Registration Act. The League of Women Voters of Tennessee notes that Tennessee’s practice mirrors the practice in Ohio that has been ruled illegal.   We are anxious to discuss the impact of the Ohio ruling on the practice in Tennessee and in particular, whether Tennessee can do something similar to Ohio to enable Tennesseans affected by this illegal purging to vote in the November 8 election.  In the Ohio case, the judge ordered provisional voting for those citizens possibly purged in this manner so that the votes for those confirmed to have been purged only for not voting can be counted.   We are aware that Demos has sent you formal communication providing notice of violation of the National Voter Registration Act. We believe that they, like the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, are very willing to quickly resolve this matter so no that Tennessean loses his or her right to vote in the November 8 election.   We urge you and your staff to begin immediately to address this issue and to contact Demos and/or the League of Women Voters of Tennessee. I can be reached at 615-812-8462.   Sincerely,   Marian Ott President   CC: Governor Haslam Speaker Harwell Lieutenant Governor Ramsey TN Election Administrator Goins TN Election Commission