Why Election Integrity Matters
In 2024, election integrity was named a major concern of Americans—and for good reason. In a republic, it is the very foundation on which our government stands. When our elections are secure, our voices are heard, our leaders are truly chosen by “We the People,” and our freedoms are preserved. When they are not, everything we hold dear is put at risk.
Rather than discuss how election integrity has eroded in recent election cycles, I will establish how elections can be restored. Election integrity is founded on three central principles: authenticate the voter, authenticate the ballot, and authenticate the count. This writing will discuss how we authenticate the voter in Tennessee.
In-Person Voting
Before October 2025, voters presented their driver’s license to the election worker as proof of identity. The worker verified that the photo on the license matched the voter and that the license was valid. However, the worker did not check the license’s address or determine whether it was a temporary license issued to non-citizens. Voters were asked to state their current address, and if it matched the address on the driver’s license, no further verification was required.
Under new legislation effective after October 2025, poll workers are now permitted to examine driver’s licenses to see if they are temporary licenses, which are issued to non-citizens temporarily working in the U.S. This change aims to prevent non-citizens from voting. However, the ongoing issue of residents who have moved but continue voting in elections from their previous address remains unresolved.
Recognizing how many primary elections are won and lost in Knox County with as few as 7 votes (county commission seat District 1 in 2024) and 12 votes in the Property Assessor race also in 2024, we know that people voting in elections where they no longer reside and people who are not eligible to vote can change an election outcome.
Accurate Voter Rolls Are Essential
Currently, counties and states must keep voter rolls updated. This is a very cumbersome process, and many counties do not have the manpower to address voter rolls on a timely basis. Tennessee law requires that inactive voters be removed from the voter rolls after non-participation and no response in two consecutive general November election voting cycles. Voters are notified by postcards of this action, and by responding, remain on the voter rolls.
Methods to Update Voter Rolls
The SAVE Database
Established in 1987, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database is an online service administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows federal, state, and local benefit-granting agencies to verify a benefit applicant’s immigration status or naturalized/derived citizenship status. In 2025, a considerable investment was made to become the key tool to administer the Save America Act currently passed by the House of Representatives (2025) and currently in committee and soon to be voted upon in the Senate. Under the auspices of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the SAVE database can:
- Verify immigration or citizenship status
- Identify updated changes in status
- Flag records of deceased individuals
- Check new voter registrations
- Review existing voter rolls
- Process large batches of records at once
- Return results quickly – often in minutes
Previously, counties and states relied on the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for information, and unfortunately, that database is not as up to date as SAVE. SAVE is currently available to every county and state to update voter rolls. To learn more about the powerful tool that is part of the Save America Act, click here for more details.
Check My Vote: Empowering Citizens
Another method to update Voter Rolls is Check My Vote. The purpose of CheckMyVOTE (CMV) is to serve as a toolkit that empowers citizens to review voter files (which are public records), and analyze them for accuracy, and then submit suggested revisions to election officers. The aim is to achieve voter registration integrity and restore faith in the electoral system.
Key Functions:
- Allow citizens to efficiently monitor and analyze state voter files.
- Help ensure accuracy and transparency in voter registration records.
- Promote civic engagement and trust in elections by allowing public oversight.
Launched in 2021, CheckMyVOTE operates as a non-partisan initiative that allows users to monitor and manage voter roll information for the sake of electoral integrity. Currently, CheckMyVOTE is available in the states of Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Rhode Island and Tennessee. CheckMyVOTE incorporates the state voter rolls with several other data sources: 1) the National Change of Address (NCOA) database, (The NCOA database records all change-of-address submissions within the previous 2 years.), 2) the approved USPS address database and 3) CASS standardized address formats (to identify correct addresses for every resident).
Currently in Knox County suggested updates are provided to the Knox County Election Commission. If you would like to participate, please contact pattyjeanking@protonmail.com.
Legislation
National
The final key to improving Election Integrity rests with the passing of key legislation. The SAVE America Act currently in the Senate is fundamental to Election Integrity. This legislation is central to the assurance that every voter presents a valid ID and only US citizens vote. This link clearly explains why the talking filibuster plays a central role in the passage of this key legislation.
State
There are several bills related to Election Integrity before our state legislature. Each of the bills restores an essential aspect of election integrity and includes a bill to return to precinct voting, one to assure only citizens vote in our election, one to reduce the number of early voting days, another to establish a voter-verified hand-marked ballot, and finally a bill to enforce residency.
Two organizations help citizens learn how to engage legislators to support important legislation. The first is called The Election Integrity Network and the second is the Tennessee Fair Elections Coalition. They work together in harmony to educate and train citizens to get involved in elections. A wealth of information will be at your fingertips by connecting to these groups. Just click on the links here: https://www.tnfairelections.org/ and https://www.electionintegritynetwork.org/
Election integrity is vital because it ensures that every lawful vote is accurately counted and that the will of the people, not the will of the powerful, determines who governs. When elections are transparent, secure, and free from fraud or coercion, citizens can confidently choose leaders who will protect their God‑given rights and uphold the Constitution. Such integrity is essential to preserving genuinely free elections, preventing tyranny, and allowing peaceful transitions of power instead of unrest or force. By protecting honest voting and trustworthy counting, we honor the vision of the Founding Fathers, who built a republic where government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed and remains accountable to the people.
The views, opinions, and positions expressed in posts are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of KCCRTN or its team.