NASHVILLE (AP) - Legislation that would allow student identification from the state's higher education institutions to be used for voting has passed the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro was approved 21-8 on Thursday.

Currently, college faculty can use their identification, but students can't. Ketron said the legislation just makes it consistent for both to use their IDs.

Sen. Stacey Campfield proposed an amendment to do away with the use of such identification, arguing college IDs are not secure enough. However, the measure failed.

The companion to Ketron's bill is scheduled to be heard next week in the House Local Government Committee.