Federal Court Blocks Tennessee Law That Restricts Voter Registration Efforts

As the first woman appointed a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and the first woman graduate of Vanderbilt Law School to be appointed to this position nationwide, Aleta Trauger’s impact on the legal community has helped create more opportunities for future generations of female attorneys. Her passion and fight have brought justice to thousands of Americans.

Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Suspending Law that has “Chilling Effect” on Third Party Registration Activity

Nashville, TN – Judge Aleta A. Trauger issued an opinion granting a preliminary injunction in Tennessee N.A.A.C.P v. Hargett, enjoining a new Tennessee law that threatens criminal and civil penalties on civic engagement organizations that conduct voter registration drives, both informal and formal, at local community events. The law places a range of restrictions—including requiring plaintiff organizations to preregister with the state prior to each voter registration drive in which they attempt to collect more than one-hundred registration applications, swearing an oath that their officers intend to follow the law, requiring that volunteers conduct state-mandated training, and imposing a 10-day return deadline after forms are collected—or face criminal penalty.

“There was no justification for the comprehensive burdens placed on groups and organizations that are focused on addressing staggeringly low registration rates across Tennessee,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The Court’s decision is important and will have immediate impact because it relieves unnecessary burdens imposed on organizations that have been actively working to register people to vote in low-income communities across the state.”

Clarke continued: “It is also important to note that the voter registration process involves more than completing forms; it also involves interactive engagement with the public to help underscore the importance of participating in the political process. The law implicated the First Amendment rights of free speech and free association. The Court’s decision makes clear that the state’s law runs contrary to the core principles underlying the First Amendment.”

Tennessee’s law also imposes fines of up to $10,000 where organizations submitted a certain number of “incomplete” forms, and it places additional criminal penalties on organizations that do not include a mandatory disclosure on public communications regarding voter registration applications. In granting plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, Judge Trauger ruled that these provisions were vague, placed onerous burdens on plaintiff organizations, and chilled their ability to engage in core protected First Amendment speech and associational activity. Judge Trauger stated, [i]f Tennessee is concerned that voter registration drives are being done incompetently, it can engage in public education efforts without relying on a complex and punitive regulatory scheme. If it is concerned that the drives are being done fraudulently—for example, by a person or organization collecting forms and never turning them in—it can punish the fraud rather than subjecting everyone else to an intrusive prophylactic scheme that true bad actors would likely evade regardless.”

“We are ecstatic that the Court ruled in our favor and stopped the law in its tracks. This means that volunteers can move forward and feel free to continue registering people to vote without fear of huge fines or being charged with a crime. Thanks to the Judge’s decision, we will be free to help others become a part of the democratic process through registration and voting,” said Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee N.A.A.C.P.

“The Judge’s decision is a victory for voting rights. The state law is draconian and punitive, seemingly intended to harm black voters and all voters in general. Voter participation is fundamental to democracy and civic participation. The judge’s decision is a victory for voting rights,” said Sekou Franklin, co-coordinator of Democracy Nashville-Democratic Communities.

“We are overjoyed by the court’s decision to block the State’s oppressive voter registration law. Registering voters is a noble act and should be conducted without fear of intimidation or retaliation from our government. We applaud the judge’s ruling and look forward to getting back to the necessary work of registering Black voters and advocating for their voting rights,” said Charlane Oliver, president of The Equity Alliance.

David Goodman, president of The Andrew Goodman Foundation, said, “We commend U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger on the just decision to halt the implementation of this deceptive and unconstitutional law. It is a blatant attempt to use the law to threaten, intimidate, and bully organizations that are engaged in registering voters with the ultimate goal of suppressing the votes of students and communities of color. My brother, Andrew Goodman, died defending voting rights, and this legislation is an affront to his legacy. A healthy democracy requires the participation of all of its citizens, especially those in our younger generation. We hope this decision emboldens more young people to get registered, vote, and be heard.”

“It is very gratifying that the Court has granted a preliminary injunction to prevent Tennessee’s new voter registration law from going into effect as scheduled on October 1. This will allow our clients to resume their important work helping to register disenfranchised Tennessee voters, and ensure that as many Tennessee citizens as possible are able to vote in next year’s important elections,” said Ira M. Feinberg, Partner at Hogan Lovells US LLP.

The lawsuit was filed by The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, pro bono firm Hogan Lovells US LLP, Memphis-based firm Burch, Porter, & Johnson PLLC, Bromberg Law LLC, and community practitioner Daniel Ayoade Yoon on behalf of plaintiffs—Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, Democracy Nashville-Democratic Communities, The Equity Alliance, and The Andrew Goodman Foundation, all of whom engage in voter registration activities—minutes after Governor Lee signed it into law.

The Court’s opinion can be read here.

About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. Now in its 56th year, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes.