The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security today announced a reminder that it will open eight of its driver service centers on the first Saturday of October and November to give citizens additional opportunities to obtain photo identification in order to vote in the upcoming state and federal general election. The centers 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.
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 October 1, 2012, 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 eight driver service centers will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6 and Saturday, November 3. 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.
The following driver service centers will provide this special Saturday service:
Davidson County
6604 Centennial Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209
Hamilton County
6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37416
Knox County
7320 Region Lane
Knoxville, TN 37914
Madison County
100 Benchmark Circle
Jackson, TN 38301
Putnam County
4600 Jefferson Ave.
Cookeville, TN 38506
Shelby County
3200 East Shelby Drive
Memphis, TN 38118
Washington County
4717 Lake Park Drive
Johnson City, TN 37615
Weakley County
8598 Highway 22
Dresden, TN 38225
