ARRP Hosts Voter ID Info Session
Tennessee AARP partnered with the state election coordinator in Jackson, Tuesday to answer questions, especially for the thousands of Tennessee seniors who plan to vote in next year’s elections. AARP has been holding information sessions all across the state on the new voter ID law. The state estimates 126,000 registered voters do not have current driver’s licenses with photos on them. But the Secretary of State’s office stresses that expired driver’s licenses will qualify as well as other government-issued IDs, ranging from federal veteran identification cards to state handgun carry permits. College IDs will not be accepted. “We want our voices heard and to make sure that we have our voices heard,” said Cleo Owens, with the executive council of the Tennessee AARP. “We want you to come out and get that photo ID. We want to express our opinion no matter what the situation is, in order to do that the most powerful way we can do it is by voting.” Those attending learned that they can get a state issued photo ID at driver’s license testing centers. The new law goes into effect in 2012.
