Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139 (2026)

Restoration of suffrage to persons convicted of infamous crimes

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) Any person who has forfeited the right of suffrage because of conviction of an infamous crime may register to vote and vote at any election for which the person is eligible by submitting sufficient proof to the administrator of elections in the county in which the person is seeking to register to vote, that:
- (1) The person has been pardoned of all infamous crimes and the person's full rights of citizenship, including the right of suffrage, have been restored;
- (2) The person's full rights of citizenship have been restored as prescribed by law; or
- (3) An appellate court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final judgment reversing the person's conviction, or convictions, of all infamous crimes.

(b) For purposes of this section, a pardon or a certified copy of a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction shall be sufficient proof to the administrator that the person fulfills the above requirements as to the offense or offenses specified on the pardon or judgment; however, before allowing a person convicted of an infamous crime to become a registered voter, it shall be the duty of the administrator in each county to verify with the state coordinator of elections that the person is eligible to register under this section.

(c) The state election coordinator is empowered to formulate a uniform procedure for verifying the registration eligibility of any person convicted of an infamous crime. Upon receiving sufficient verification of such person's eligibility to register, the administrator shall allow such person to become a registered voter in the same manner and in accordance with the same laws, rules, or regulations as any other citizen of this state.

(d) The provisions of this section, relative to the forfeiture and restoration of the right of suffrage for those persons convicted of infamous crimes, shall also apply to those persons convicted of crimes prior to May 18, 1981, which are infamous crimes after May 18, 1981.

Acts 1981, ch. 345, §§ 3, 8.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1983–2024 · leading case: May v. Carlton, 245 S.W.3d 340 (Tenn. 2008).

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May v. Carlton, 245 S.W.3d 340 (Tenn. 2008). · cites it 3× “Although the legislature directed that this statute be applied retroactively, see Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 2-2-139(b), 2-19-143(4) (1981), this Court struck down that provision in 1983, holding that a retroactive disenfranchisement of voting rights violated article I, section 5 of the…”

Gaskin v. Collins, 661 S.W.2d 865 (Tenn. 1983). · cites it 4× “More specifically, we are asked to determine whether T.C.A. §§ 2-2-139(d) and 2-19-143(4) violate Article I, § 5 of the Tennessee Constitution.”

Terrence Johnson v. Phil Bredesen, 624 F.3d 742 (6th Cir. 2010). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139 . If the Legislature had merely regulatory intentions in enacting § 40-29-202(b) and (c), it could have included provisions with the other reinfranchisement provisions in the “Elections” Title as well.”

Green Party of Tennessee v. Hargett, 882 F. Supp. 2d 959 (M.D. Tenn. 2012). · cites it 2× “§ 2-2-139 and § 40-29-203(d). This process requires that before a county administrator allows a convicted felon to become a registered voter, the administrator must verify with' my Office that the person is eligible to register to vote under TenmCode Ann.”

Tenn.Conf. of the NAACP v. William Lee, 105 F.4th 888 (6th Cir. 2024). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139 (c). Over time, the Coordinator of Elections has changed the procedure for processing the registration forms of those who mark that they have been convicted of felonies.”

Robert Dionne O'Neal v. Mark Goins (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139 , governing restoration of voting privileges to those who have been convicted of crimes, states: (a) Any person who has forfeited the right of suffrage because of conviction of an infamous crime may register to vote and vote at any election for which…”

Wilson v. State (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “This part of the statute was codified in T.C.A. § 2-2-139(d) and § 2-19- 143(4), and it was not codified as T.”

Terrence Johnson v. Phil Bredesen (6th Cir. 2010). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139 . If the Legislature had merely regulatory intentions in enacting § 40-29-202(b) and (c), it could have included provisions with the other reinfranchisement provisions in the “Elections” Title as well.”

Gregory L. Smith v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012). “This subsection (b) shall apply even if the person's citizenship rights have been restored, but shall not be construed as limiting the restoration of any other citizenship rights, including the right of suffrage provided for in § 2-2-139, § 2-19-143, or § 40-29-105. Accordingly,…”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139(b) — 1 case

May v. Carlton, 245 S.W.3d 340 (Tenn. 2008). “Although the legislature directed that this statute be applied retroactively, see Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 2-2-139(b), 2-19-143(4) (1981), this Court struck down that provision in 1983, holding that a retroactive disenfranchisement of voting rights violated article I, section 5 of the…”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-139(d) — 2 cases

Gaskin v. Collins, 661 S.W.2d 865 (Tenn. 1983). “More specifically, we are asked to determine whether T.C.A. §§ 2-2-139(d) and 2-19-143(4) violate Article I, § 5 of the Tennessee Constitution.”

Wilson v. State (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). “This part of the statute was codified in T.C.A. § 2-2-139(d) and § 2-19- 143(4), and it was not codified as T.”

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