Amendment limits ability to penalize voter-registration groups

Rep. Tim Rudd, Rmurfreesboro, amended the legislation on the floor to limit the ability to assess such penalties against groups.

Mark Goins, the state’s elections coordinator, later noted that only groups that had a paid employee who oversaw a voter registration drive could face a penalty.

Goins added if someone turned in more than 100 deficient forms, they could only face a civil penalty.

“No one is going to be liable criminally for turning in a form that lacks information,” he said.

Under the bill, a criminal penalty could be assessed if a group leading a registration drive does not take the required training.

As the bill made its way through the legislature, the penalty provision led to significant opposition from voter registration groups, ranging from the League of Women Voters to the Equity Alliance and Tennessee Black Voter Project, which registered thousands of African American voters last year.

As members entered the House chamber on Monday, they were faced with nearly 100 protesters who chanted, “Vote no or you must go.”

Speaking to Rep. Micah Van Huss, R-jonesborough, Tequila Johnson, co-founder of the Equity Alliance, said the bill represented voter suppression and racism.

“(This bill) discourages people from volunteering in the Volunteer State,” she said.

The group of protesters said those who voted in favor of the legislation would face action at the ballot box.

“We will get you out,” Johnson declared. “We