Sen. Miller Urges Sen. Haynes To Bring Bill Back

Goal Is To Ensure Only Citizens Vote In Elections
by Jesse Hughes, State Republican Press Secretary

Chattanoogan.com
posted May 19, 2005

NASHVILLE—Senate Republican Majority Caucus Chairman Jeff Miller (Cleveland) today urged Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Haynes to bring a bill back out of Calendar Committee so that the Senate could act on an amendment to ensure the integrity of elections.

“This is a no-brainer. Only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections. Senator Haynes needs to quit playing politics and bring his bill back to the Senate floor for a hearing,” stated Sen. Miller.

On Thursday, the Senate was considering a bill, HB 1091/SB 1000, which makes major changes in election laws regarding voters. Wanting to protect the integrity of the election process, Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) proposed an amendment to the bill that would require a person applying to vote under the new election laws to show proof of U.S. citizenship.

Instead of accepting this amendment to protect the integrity of the voting process, Sen. Haynes insisted that requiring proof of citizenship to vote was partisan politics and stated that he wouldn’t proceed with the bill. He then sent the bill back to Calendar.

“How can anyone rationally claim that limiting our elections in the U.S. to U.S. citizens is partisan? How could this possibly be seen as a partisan move? Senator Norris’s amendment is a common-sense measure to keep non-citizens from exercising a right only accorded by our constitution to citizens.

“We urge Sen. Haynes to rethink his position and bring his bill back to the floor for a vote so that we can do the right thing for the citizens of Tennessee,” concluded Sen. Miller.