Lawmakers Strip Bill to Allow Voters to Use College IDs

State lawmakers stripped out a provision today to let college students vote using IDs from public universities. The amended bill cuts off an argument currently before the state Supreme Court, by spelling out that a Memphis library card cannot be used to vote.

Via Wikimedia

The bill aims to tie up some loose ends over voter ID requirements passed a couple years ago. The state Senate approved a version this month to permit IDs from public colleges in Tennessee, while excluding cards issued locally, like library cards.

So when a House committee added an amendment once again blocking college IDs, Democrats like Antonio Parkinson of Memphis expressed confusion:

“This will pretty-much gut the bill, will it not?”

When Parkinson asked, sponsor Susan Lynn said she’s fine with the change. The measure would sidestep a voter ID ruling due out this spring from the state Supreme Court, though Lynn assured members that’s ‘absolutely not’ the point of the bill.