State officials are trying to reassure Tennesseans who need a photo ID to vote next year they will be able to get one. That’s after drawing heavy criticism last week, when a 96-year-old Chattanooga woman trying to get a voter ID was denied.
Officials say they’ll try to be flexible with voters based on what paperwork they have. And they say anyone turned down for an ID should ask for a supervisor.
Lori Bullard is Tennessee’s assistant commissioner over Driver Services. Bullard says the state is trying to learn from its recent trouble with Dorothy Cooper, the Chattanooga woman turned away with no voter ID because she lacked her marriage certificate.
“In the situation with Miss Cooper, and there may be others we don’t know about, this is not a perfect process – this is a brand new law, just started in July, and it’ll be effective January 2012, so we will experience some bumps along the road.”
Officials say more than a 126 thousand Tennessee voters over age 60 have non-photo drivers’ licenses, and they can get photo IDs without the usual $4 fee, through next spring’s primary.
The state will also keep some driver service centers open a few Saturdays specifically to provide IDs for voters. That’s at no extra cost to the state, officials say, because they’re rescheduling current workers to come in one Saturday a month. Officials figure diverting those workers shouldn’t add much to the normal weekday wait for a license.
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Tennessee’s 2012 voter ID requirement (pdf)
Most photo IDs issued by federal or state government will work to vote, including a drivers’ license, passport, military ID or gun permit card. Officials stress an expired drivers’ license or one from out of state is fine. But they won’t take photo IDs from your work, bank, or college.
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