New Tennessee bill would certify student IDs as voting credentials
08 March, 2013
category: Education
The University of Tennessee’s Health Science Center campus has revealed its support for a bill that could make student IDs an acceptable voting identification credential.
A report from WREG Memphis reveals that State Senator Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro is a major proponent of Senate Bill 125, which would authorize the use of student photo IDs issued by state community colleges and universities for voting. Also a point of contention with the Bill 125 is the inclusion of photo library cards like those issued in Memphis.
Opposing arguments are abound over the use of library cards— which are notorious for a lack of required personal data at the time of card acquisition. Student IDs, on the other hand, are believed to be a more credible form of identification, hence the push for Bill 125.
The library card debate came to a head last year, when the city of Memphis sued the state of Tennessee after election officials refused to accept the city-issued, photo library cards.
The college ID bill is being presented in the Senate, State and Local Government Committee this week, while the Memphis library card case will likely not be heard by the State Supreme Court for several months.
