Tennessee Supreme Court shoots down voter ID challenge

Thursday, October 17, 2013

MEMPHIS - The Tennessee Supreme Court has declined to overturn the state's voter identification law after it was challenged by the city of Memphis and two voters.

Shelby County residents Daphne Turner-Golden and Sullistine Bell sued the state last year, arguing that the law requiring voters to present government-issued photo ID in order to vote in state or federal elections was unconstitutional.

The voters tried to vote in the August 2012 primary using their Memphis Public Library cards, which they argued was valid ID, but were turned away.

The trial court ruled against them. The Court of Appeals ruled the library cards were acceptable, but also ruled that the photographic ID requirement was constitutional.

Lawmakers amended the law in April so that municipal library cards were excluded as valid voter ID.