By Karen Hall

Editor

The General Assembly amended Tennessee's voter photo identification law during its recently-concluded legislative session. Amendments sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mount Juliet) seek to clarify and strengthen the law that was successfully implemented during the 2012 election cycle.

Voters may no longer use photo IDs issued by other states as acceptable forms of identification when voting in person. This change mirrors similar laws in other states, including Indiana. Indiana's photo ID law has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court.

The amendments also clarify the General Assembly's original intent in passing the law by explicitly excluding photo IDs issued by counties and municipalities. These changes took effect when the amended law was signed by Gov. Bill Haslam this week.

"The General Assembly continues to enact laws that protect the integrity of the ballot box," said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. "I am grateful that our legislators continue to seek out policies to ensure that only eligible voters may cast their ballots in Tennessee."

"Our poll workers will be ready to implement these changes in our next election," said Administrator of Elections Tristan Arnold. Early voting is already in progress for the Lewisburg municipal election to be held on May 7, and photo IDs are being checked in accordance with the newest regulations, Arnold added.

If you arrive at the polling place without a photo ID you will be allowed to vote on a paper ballot, which is then sealed in a provisional vote envelope, Arnold explained. In order to have your vote counted, you have to bring your photo ID to the election office before 4 p.m. Thursday, May 9. On the third day, the Election Commission assembles to count the provisional votes which have been validated by the presentation of photo IDs.

Examples of acceptable forms of identification, whether current or expired, include Tennessee drivers licenses, U.S. passports, Department of Safety photo ID cards, U.S. military photo IDs, and other photo IDs issued by the federal or Tennessee state governments.

Voters without one of these forms of identification may obtain free photo IDs for voting at Tennessee Department of Safety driver service centers. The Columbia location is closing for renovation at 5 p.m. today, April 26, and will not reopen until 8 a.m. election day, May 7. The nearest driver service centers are in Shelbyville at 100 Eagle Boulevard (931 680-2540) and in Fayetteville at 4110 Thornton Taylor Parkway (931 438-1915). For directions to these centers, visit www.tn.gov/safety and click on Driver Services.

County Clerk Daphne Fagan stated her office will not be issuing photo IDs for voting at this time.