Democrats Demand Probe into Voter Suppression

Lawmakers call on Justice Department to take action

A group of Tennessee lawmakers is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether state leaders are actively attempting to erect barriers to voting.

22 Democratic legislators sent a letter to the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division alleging deliberate attempts by GOP officials to suppress votes or restrict access to the ballot.

The letter specifically alleges that Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins engaged in an “illegal and unconstitutional” scheme to “prevent virtually any eligible applicants” from exercising voting rights restored by law.

The letter cites a policy implemented by Goins that requires individuals who have lost their voting rights due to a felony conviction to first go through the process of restoring their right to legally own firearms before having their voting rights restored.

Sen. Charlane Oliver of Nashville said the decision by Goins creates a "rigged" process that leaves hundreds of thousands of potential voters disenfranchised.

“Every American who returns from incarceration deserves a fair process to restore their voting rights, but that’s not happening in Tennessee, where more than 470,000 people, many of whom are Black, have no viable path to regain their constitutional right to participate in our democracy,” said Sen. Charlane Oliver, whose office sent the letter. “We believe this rigged process stands in clear violation of state and federal law, yet we have found no partnership from the controlling party to remedy this grave injustice."

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