| Driver service center sets special hours to issue IDs |
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Posted: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 6:17 am
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NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced a reminder it will open driver service centers Saturday and Nov. 3 to give citizens additional opportunities to obtain photo identification in order to vote in the upcoming state and federal general election.
The centers, including one in Dresden, were chosen based on the size of the populations they serve and the response from citizens to centers that were opened on Saturdays before the primary election. The Weakley County center is located at 8598 Highway 22 in Dresden.
A new state law effective this year requires citizens to present a federal or state-issued photo ID to vote at the polls. The law also requires the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to issue photo IDs for voting purposes at no charge.
As of Monday, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security had issued 22,933 photo IDs for voting purposes. The vast majority (21,468) of those issued were non-photo driver licenses converted into photo driver licenses, while 1,465 were original photo identification cards.
“Any citizen who needs a photo ID for voting purposes may obtain one at no charge by visiting any of our 51 driver service centers during normal business hours. As an added service, we are again opening certain centers for special Saturday hours to make sure everyone has an opportunity to get a photo ID,” Department of Safety and Homeland Security commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
“Once again, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is demonstrating its strong commitment to helping Tennesseans get the proper identification needed to vote. We are pleased to continue to partner with Commissioner Gibbons and his colleagues in their efforts to encourage civic participation,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said.
The driver service centers will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The centers will issue voter photo IDs and convert non-photo driver licenses into photo driver licenses only. No other services will be available during these special hours.
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 Melissa Long at 865-712-4908 (east Tennessee contact) or Rochelle Bryant at 931-242-7282.
For more information on the new voter photo ID law, including acceptable forms of photo identification and documents needed to obtain a photo ID for voting purposes, please visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s website at www.tn.gov/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. Published in The WCP 10.2.12 |
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