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Committee advances constitutional amendment to specify U.S. citizenship as voter eligibility
Summary
Leader Johnson presented SJR624 to add explicit citizenship language to the state constitution; after brief Q&A the committee approved the resolution and sent it to calendar (7 ayes, 1 no, 1 present not voting).
Leader Johnson told the Judiciary Committee that SJR624 would place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to state explicitly that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in Tennessee elections.
"Senate joint resolution, 624 is a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment specifying that only United States citizens are eligible eligible to vote in any election held in Tennessee," Leader Johnson said, explaining that "current law prohibits non citizens from voting, but the constitution does not express it expressly." He said the change would place the item on the 2030 gubernatorial election ballot if approved by the General Assembly.
Committee members asked whether the rule was already reflected in federal law or statute; Johnson said current statute addresses it but the constitution does not and the amendment would make the prohibition explicit. The committee moved and seconded the resolution; the clerk recorded seven ayes, one no and one present-not-voting, and the measure was sent to the committee on calendar.
