Amends TCA Title 2.

This bill revises and adds provisions regarding voter registration, as discussed below.<br /> <br /> Present law requires county election commissions to implement an address verification program to identify any voter who has changed the voter's address of residence without notifying the election commission. This bill extends that responsibility to the state coordinator of elections as well.<br /> <br /> Under present law, the address verification program may use the following sources to identify any voter who has changed the voter's address of residence without notifying the county election commission:<br /> <br /> (1) The return of mail sent by the county election commission to the voter at the voter's address of registration;<br /> <br /> (2) The United States postal service's national change of address service; and<br /> <br /> (3) Information received from the coordinator of elections as a result of a comparison of voter registration addresses with the residential addresses of record with the department of safety.<br /> <br /> If, as a result of the address verification program, the county election commission determines that a voter may have changed the voter's address of residence, the administrator of elections must mail a forwardable confirmation notice to the voter at the address of registration with a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return form on which the voter may verify or correct the new address information.<br /> <br /> This bill revises the provision above such that to identify a voter who has changed the voter's address of residence without notifying the state or the county election commission, the address verification program implemented by the county election commission or coordinator of elections must use (instead of may use) the following sources:<br /> <br /> (1) The United States postal service's national change of address service; and<br /> <br /> (2) Information received from the coordinator of elections as a result of a comparison of voter registration addresses with the residential addresses of record with the department of safety.<br /> <br /> The address verification program implemented by the county election commission or coordinator of elections must use the return of mail sent by the county election commission to the voter at the voter's address of registration, such as a non-forwardable verification card.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the coordinator of elections to contract with commercial data companies, including, but not limited to, credit agencies to verify and audit information in the voter registration lists, including, but not limited to, citizenship status and residence.<br /> <br /> If, as a result of the address verification program, the state coordinator of elections or the county election commission determines that a voter may have changed the voter's address of residence, this bill requires the administrator of elections to mail a forwardable confirmation notice to the voter at the address of registration with a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return form on which the voter may verify or correct the new address information.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the coordinator of elections to conduct independent audits of the voter registration file using commercial groups that identify deceased individuals as part of their business and requires the county election commission to investigate the status of the registrants identified by the audit and cancel the registration of registrants found to be dead.<br /> <br /> This bill also:<br /> <br /> (1) Prohibits the state coordinator of elections from entering into an agreement with other states or contracting with an entity for the purpose of list maintenance if that agreement or contract requires documents related to list maintenance to be withheld from public inspection;<br /> <br /> (2) Provides that the general assembly has legal standing to bring suit against state government officials who make or attempt to make unauthorized changes in state election law or regulations, or to waive such laws or regulations, including through settlements or consent decrees; <br /> <br /> (3) Specifies that the general assembly is deemed to be a necessary party in a lawsuit against a state agency, state department or state government official contesting the legality or constitutionality of an election law involving illegal or unauthorized changes to state election laws; and<br /> <br /> (4) Allows a registered voter to file a writ of mandamus against a state or local official who fails to abide or enforce a state election law or regulatory requirement.<br />