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Tennessee Legislature Passes Online Voter Registration

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The Tennessee General Assembly has passed legislation that would allow Tennesseans to register to vote online.

The House on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that the Senate had earlier approved. The measure allows Tennesseans to go online to register to vote or update their registration records. Applicants would be directed to apply on paper if their name, date of birth or other identifying information could not be confirmed with the Department of Safety.

Rep. Gerald McCormick, the Chattanooga Republican who sponsored the House bill, said 29 other states and the District of Columbia already have an online voter registration system in place. He said there would be safeguards to discourage voter fraud.

The online voter registration system would in place by July 2017 if Gov. Bill Haslam signs the bill.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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