Tennessee felons must retrieve gun rights before voting rights

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga’s Unity Group is pushing back against a Tennessee ruling on convicted felons getting voting rights restored.

A tougher state voting rights restoration policy means people convicted of a felony must get gun rights restored before being eligible to vote.

An advocacy group has already filed a federal class action lawsuit challenging the policy.

The Campaign Legal Center argues the Tennessee policy effectively amounts to black voter suppression.

The Unity Group is raising awareness about the policy and what it means for Chattanoogans.

“Whether it’s women, whether it is an 18-year-olds, whether it’s the District of Columbia… Americans, feel that an essential aspect of democracy, and being a citizen is the right to vote,” said Unity Group Co-Chair Eric Atkins.

Nearly half a million people in Tennessee are barred from voting due to felony convictions.