Tennessee lawmakers call for investigation after thousands of voters send voter verification letters

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Two Tennessee state lawmakers are calling for an investigation after the state’s elections coordinator sent out more than 14,000 letters asking voters for proof of citizenship ahead of the upcoming election.

This comes just weeks before early voting for the primaries begins.

The letter was sent to a select group of Tennessee citizens by the state’s elections coordinator, Mark Goins. The letter states that their voter information matches an individual who may not have been a U.S. citizen at the time their driver’s license or identification card was issued.

“At first glance, this letter is an attempt at voter intimidation,” said House Representative John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville).

The letter then asks the voter to send back proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport.

“It creates the impression – false – that there is another procedural step they have to go through before they can vote in the upcoming election,” Clemmons said.

Clemmons said a select group of voters both here in Nashville and across the state received this letter.

“One of them we heard from became a U.S. citizen in 2006 and received this letter. They’re looking for this information from somewhere,” Clemmons said.

This is the congressman’s main question, as he calls on Tennessee’s Attorney General to investigate why these voters were targeted.

“I want an investigation. I want answers. The people I represent and all the people of Tennessee deserve answers to this question: Why was this letter sent?” Clemmons said.

The letter also contains a stark reminder of the harsh penalties for illegal voting, including jail time and a $5,000 fine.

“They don’t need a letter from the elections coordinator outlining the criminal law and penalties for illegal voters and saying they need to mail something in the next few weeks to verify their citizenship,” Clemmons said.

News 2 reached out to the Attorney General’s office for comment; however, we have not received a response. News 2 also reached out to the Secretary of State’s office after Tennessee House Democratic Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) sent a letter seeking clarification.

In response, the election coordinator wrote a letter stating, among other things: “We legally audit our voter rolls to ensure they are accurate and up to date. Our office wants every eligible citizen to register to vote and participate in Tennessee’s elections. The TCA Act requires my office to check voter rolls against the Tennessee Department of Safety and Security’s (Department of Safety’s) database to ensure that no non-U.S. citizens are registered to vote in this state. … The response from citizens seeking to have their information corrected by us has been overwhelmingly positive. By giving those whose eligibility is in question the opportunity to correct outdated information, our voter roll data is up to date and eligible Tennessee voters’ votes are counted.”

It also states that the information received is stored securely.