Secretary Hargett Commends Scott County Clerk Pat Phillips For Assisting With Free Photo Ids

Nashville, TN (2011-11-08) Secretary of State Tre Hargett has commended Scott County Clerk Pat Phillips for providing free photo identification for Tennesseans to help them meet the requirements of a new voting law. Under the new law, which takes effect January 1, 2012, voters will be required to show state- or federally-issued photo IDs to cast ballots in Tennessee elections.

Scott County is one of 30 counties across the state re-issuing driver licenses with photos at no cost to registered voters who currently have licenses without photos.

“This new service has been beneficial for our customers,” Clerk Phillips said.

The free photo IDs are only available for people who do not have other forms of acceptable ID but wish to vote. In addition to driver licenses with photos, other acceptable forms of ID, even if expired, include:

• U.S. passports
• Military identification cards
• Gun permits with photos
• Department of Safety and Homeland Security photo IDs
• Federal or state-issued photo IDs, with the exception of college student IDs

“I am grateful that Pat Phillips and 29 other county clerks have joined the Department of Safety and Homeland Security in making free photo IDs readily available for Tennesseans who need them,” Secretary Hargett said. “This new law is important because it is a tool that can help reduce the potential for voter fraud. It is equally important that eligible voters have proper identification when they visit the polls. Thanks to the efforts of Pat Phillips and her staff, it will be more convenient than ever to get that type of identification.”

County clerks have agreed to provide this service through March 12, 2012.