Stewart for State Senate

Sen. Stewart offers amendment to exempt voters 65 and up from photo ID rules

NASHVILLE – Freshman Sen. Eric Stewart, D-Belvidere, stood Monday night to offer an amendment that would relieve Tennesseans ages 65 and older of the burden of providing a photo ID in order to vote.
Sen. Stewart’s amendment ended a protracted debate on the Senate floor over a bill requiring that, with few exceptions, Tennesseans provide some sort of photo identification before they can exercise their right to vote. The bill then quickly passed on a vote of 29-3.

“My 79-year-old grandmother does not have a driver’s license or a state photo ID or a military ID or a passport. She has never travelled outside this country,” Sen. Stewart said. “Why should she be forced to do this? She’s been voting since she was 18.”

Before Sen. Stewart’s amendment was attached, the bill would only make exceptions to the photo ID rule if the voter was in a licensed nursing home, home for the aged or similar institution, or those who require an emergency absentee ballot.

A voter without the proper identification would be able to cast only a provisional ballot and would have to produce a photo ID within two days. Those with religious objections to being photographed or who couldn’t afford a photo would be required to sign an affidavit of identity.

Numerous questions were raised about the fairness of the regulations, and debate was lengthy. When Sen. Stewart offered his amendment, Sen. Bill Ketron, the bill’s sponsor, agreed to it, and senior voters were exempted. 

Read details about SB 0150 and view video of the debate and the vote at http://tnga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=78&clip_id=1088&meta_id=12451.

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Sen. Eric Stewart represents Bledsoe, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren and Warren counties. Contact his office at sen.eric.stewart@capitol.tn.gov or (615) 741-6694 or 310A War Memorial Building, Nashville, TN 37243.