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Measure Takes Away Voters' Rights

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Republican Party today called on Governor Phil Bredesen to veto a bill passed by the General Assembly that would make it extremely difficult for write-in candidates to be on the ballot in the November 7th elections.

"Governor Phil Bredesen has a duty to protect the freedoms of Tennessee voters and veto the so-called incumbent protection bill passed by the General Assembly this past weekend," said Tennessee Republican Party chairman Bob Davis.

The bill greatly increases the amount of votes a write-in candidate must have to be placed on the ballot in the general election. Currently, a candidate must get five percent of those voting in their respective primary. Under the new bill, a candidate must get five percent of all registered voters in their district.

It also mandates that write-in candidates must notify the election commission 50 days before the election, instead of the existing 20 day notice requirement.

"This bill exemplifies bad government," said Davis. "It takes away the safeguards in place to challenge an incumbent lawmaker who may have lost their way. I encourage constituents to call the governor and express their disapproval with this amendment that blatantly takes away their rights."

Historically, write-in candidates have been placed on the ballot after controversial votes in the legislature like the state income tax.

Dear Governor Bredesen,

I cannot believe that the Tennessee General Assembly recently passed an act (HB1114), severely limiting the rights of Tennessean citizens to oppose political incumbents, by imposing harsh and unattainable conditions upon write-in candidates. To expect a write-in candidate to receive 5% of the total number of registered voters in any one county is largely unachievable and totally punitive to those who believe that the rights of write-in candidates are part of the sacred freedoms of this great nation.

The right to political incumbency is not provided in our State or Federal Constitutions. In fact, such a right was strongly resisted by the Founding Fathers of our country, when they took up arms against a Hanoverian king, who insisted upon incumbency for his own chosen representatives rather than those elected by the people. By passing this policy, we, in Tennessee, are turning our backs upon the very freedoms for which this nation stands. Incumbency is not a right, nor is it a privilege for the chosen few.

I once had the privilege to visit the Capitol Building in Nashville and felt proud of the accomplishments of our legislators. The magnificent statue of Andrew Jackson in the grounds inspires many Tennesseans because we know that he was not only a courageous general and a strong president, he was also a man who truly represented the common people.

It makes me wonder what he would have to say about this new act. Perhaps two of his quotes are apt:

"As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of persons and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending."

And also:

"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error. "

Perhaps in this case, all of our legislators would show themselves to be worth their salt and acknowledge that they are in error. If not, then perhaps they should hang their heads in shame as they pass by Andrew Jackson's statue each day.

Please veto this unworthy act.

Rev. John Stuart, Knoxville, TN

Posted by: John Stuart at May 31, 2006 1:28 PM

May 31, 2006

TN GOP: Bredesen Should Veto 'Incumbent Protection Bill'