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HomeNewsDepartment of Safety and Homeland Security issues nearly 2,400 Photo IDs for...

Department of Safety and Homeland Security issues nearly 2,400 Photo IDs for Voting purposes since July 1st

Department reminds Citizens that certain Driver Service Centers will be open on the First Saturday of November for Voter ID Issuance Only

Tennessee Department of SafetyNashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced Monday that as of October 24th it had issued 2,385 forms of photo identification for voting purposes since a new law went into effect making on July 1st photo IDs for voting purposes available at no charge.

The number of photo IDs issued for voting purposes includes original photo identification cards (for voters who had never been issued a driver license or photo ID and were not already in the Department’s database) and non-photo driver licenses converted into photo driver licenses. (Drivers in Tennessee age 60 and older may opt to carry a non-photo driver license.)

“In the last several weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of voters obtaining photo IDs from the department. I urge any voter who needs a photo ID to obtain one from the department without charge,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.

As of October 2nd, 2011, there are 4,341,325 Tennesseans age 18 and older who have valid photo IDs issued by the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. There are 4,150,645 with valid photo driver licenses and 188,196 with valid state photo IDs issued by the department. Additionally, there are also 2,484 Tennesseans with photo handgun carry permits who do not possess a Tennessee photo driver license or state photo ID. The Department is unable to determine the number of Tennesseans who are of voting age with no form of photo ID.

For citizens who need a photo ID for voting purposes, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will open 19 driver service centers on the first Saturday of each month starting on November 5th for the purpose of issuing voter photo IDs only.  The centers will be open normal business hours, from 8:30am – 5:00pm.

Driver service centers will be open on the first Saturday of each month in the following counties: Davidson (Centennial Blvd. and Hart Lane), Hamilton (both locations), Knox (both locations), Shelby (East Shelby Drive and Summer Avenue), Sullivan, Sumner, Rutherford, Washington, Williamson, Montgomery, Blount, Bradley, Putnam, Greene, and Carter.

To minimize the possibility of wait times during Saturday hours, groups or organizations planning to make a group visit to a driver service center should schedule an appointment by calling Linda Cone at 731.225.0924 or Wanda Adams at 615.251.5300.

In addition, 30 county clerks’ offices across the state are converting non-photo driver licenses to photo driver licenses for voters who need them free of charge.

About the Tennessee Department of Safety

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public.  The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

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