Gun rights standing in the way of many disenfranchised voters in Tennessee
Convicted felons never fully have their rights as citizens restored in Tennessee, due to them not being allowed to own a gun.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - As of 2022, nearly 300 thousand Tennesseans were not allowed to vote because of a felony conviction.
There is a path to getting those rights back, but it’s a long one that now includes gun rights. With the presidential election heating up, so is the fight to get the disenfranchised back in the voting booths.
Both Stephen Brown and Amanda Hopkins are convicted felons. Both were found guilty of drug possession, which means in the state of Tennessee, they have lost their citizenship rights, including their right to vote.
“It’s more like feeling undressed. Almost in the sense that I have my shoes on and no socks. Or I have my pants on and I don’t have a shirt.” Brown described.
Both have paid their debts to society but still do not have their voting rights back.
“Directly impacted people, no matter how much you try to change your life - become productive citizens of the community, do outreach work, anything that you do,” Hopkins said. “It’s always what you’ve done before,” Hopkins added.
Before his crime, Brown used to vote absentee while in the military. He has only been inside a voting booth once in his life, which was 2 years ago with his wife.
“And she said I want you to come in here with me. And it was huge.” Brown said. “It was huge because it was one of those things like I was watching a child be born. Like the first child. It’s like something new and it’s like you just regret the thing that you did that was wrong.”
Most of their rights have been restored. But as convicted felons, they don’t have the right to own a weapon. And that’s where the issue lies.
“This is a very big issue for folks trying to get their voting rights restored,” explained Keeda Haynes, a public defender turned criminal justice reform advocate and author.
She says the disagreement surrounds a 2023 Tennessee Supreme Court case and whether or not having your full rights of citizenship restored without having your gun rights restored gives a person the right to vote.
A judge has issued an order allowing Stephen Brown to vote, but the Tennessee Coordinator of Elections, Mark Goins, has not restored those rights. A hearing is set for Tuesday.
“On October 1st at the hearing, a judge will decide if he is going to hold Mark Goins in contempt for denying his order where his order said Mr. Brown will get his voting rights back,” Haynes said.
Until then, however, it’s a waiting game.
“I also want to be able to protect my family. If it comes down to protecting my family it’s gonna be a stick fight. You know without gun rights I’ll be ok.” Brown said.
There are a lot of people out there like Brown and Hopkins. When I asked Amanda what she would say to them, she didn’t hesitate. “Don’t give up. Keep pushing. Keep doing what you’re doing,” she said.
The State Election Commission deferred a request for an on-camera interview to the State Attorney’s office.
On October 1, Goins will have to explain to a judge why his orders allowing Brown to vote have not been followed.
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