Published: Thursday, March 15, 2012, 6:00 AM
By The Associated PressThe Associated Press |
| Constituents cast their votes. |
Republican-controlled legislatures in Pennsylvania and around the country have actively pursued photo ID laws ahead of the 2012 presidential election in what supporters say is an attempt to prevent voter fraud.
Although Democrats and many county officials say there have been no instances of voter fraud that justify such a law, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett signed the bill Wednesday night, a few hours after it was approved by the state House.
The new law will be in effect for the Nov. 6 general election. The April 24 Pennsylvania Primary will be treated as a test run — ID will be requested but not required. The Department of State plans to send out postcards in September and air radio and TV ads, state secretary Carol Aichele said.
Corbett pledged that state agencies will add extra hours to transport people, particularly the elderly, to get identification cards from PennDOT’s service centers.
In the signing ceremony at his Capitol offices, Corbett called the new law a preventive measure, but he could not offer examples of voter fraud to back up his contention that the crime has occurred in certain precincts in the past.
“I believe we need to ensure that our elections are fair,” Corbett said.
Now, Pennsylvanians will need to show a photo ID that meets the law’s guidelines every time they vote.
After three days of floor debate, the House passed the bill on a 104-88, vote, largely along partisan lines. Every Democrat opposed it, while three Republicans — Reps. Kurt A. Masser of Columbia County, Marguerite Quinn of Bucks County and Chris Ross of Chester County — broke ranks to oppose it. The Senate passed it 26-23 last week.
In the signing ceremony at his Capitol offices, Corbett called the new law a preventive measure, but he could not offer examples of voter fraud to back up his contention that the crime has occurred in certain precincts in the past.
“I believe we need to ensure that our elections are fair,” Corbett said.
Now, Pennsylvanians will need to show a photo ID that meets the law’s guidelines every time they vote.
After three days of floor debate, the House passed the bill on a 104-88, vote, largely along partisan lines. Every Democrat opposed it, while three Republicans — Reps. Kurt A. Masser of Columbia County, Marguerite Quinn of Bucks County and Chris Ross of Chester County — broke ranks to oppose it. The Senate passed it 26-23 last week.
The law requires a photo ID, including many government employee photo IDs, student IDs from colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and IDs for people who live in elder-care institutions in the state, as long as they show a name, photo and expiration date that makes them current.
Democrats called it a thinly veiled attempt to defeat President Barack Obama in the November election, when Pennsylvania, historically a swing state, is again expected to be a high-profile battleground.
They summoned images of civil rights-era battles, such as the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march in Alabama, to protest what they view as a throwback to the now-unconstitutional poll taxes and literacy tests designed to discriminate against poor and minority voters.
“We’re about to turn back the pages of history to that era by imposing what is a poll tax, among other obstacles, for the most vulnerable people in our community that have the right today to vote. And tomorrow, who knows?” said Rep. Daniel Frankel, D-Allegheny County.
The Obama campaign criticized the measure as “a costly bill to address a nonexistent problem” while Democratic lawmakers and the American Civil Liberties Union vowed a court challenge.
Similar laws in other states face legal challenges.
Democrats called it a thinly veiled attempt to defeat President Barack Obama in the November election, when Pennsylvania, historically a swing state, is again expected to be a high-profile battleground.
They summoned images of civil rights-era battles, such as the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march in Alabama, to protest what they view as a throwback to the now-unconstitutional poll taxes and literacy tests designed to discriminate against poor and minority voters.
“We’re about to turn back the pages of history to that era by imposing what is a poll tax, among other obstacles, for the most vulnerable people in our community that have the right today to vote. And tomorrow, who knows?” said Rep. Daniel Frankel, D-Allegheny County.
The Obama campaign criticized the measure as “a costly bill to address a nonexistent problem” while Democratic lawmakers and the American Civil Liberties Union vowed a court challenge.
Similar laws in other states face legal challenges.
On Monday, the Obama administration blocked a new voter ID law in Texas, drawing fierce criticism from Republicans. The Justice Department said the law harms Hispanic voters, who, it said, disproportionately lack driver’s licenses or other photo ID. The action followed a similar move in December to block a voter ID law in South Carolina that federal officials said adversely affects black voters.
Last week, a similar law in Wisconsin was stayed by a judge, preventing it from taking effect for that state’s April 3 primary. The judge acted after hearing testimony from 40 residents who described the costs and difficulties they encountered in trying to obtain an ID.
Corbett said he believes voter turnout will increase, and Republicans said they are confident the bill will withstand scrutiny.
“It’s simple, straightforward, it’s designed to ensure the integrity of everybody’s vote,” said House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County. “It’s ‘Here is an ID, a photo ID, and if you need to get a photo ID, we’ll give you one for free.’¤”
Democrats contend that getting a photo ID from the state will not be free or easy, noting that applying for supporting paperwork such as birth certificates and passports costs money and that getting them takes months.
Also, the six-day window after the election allowed by the measure for a voter to supply photo ID to elections officials if they don’t have one at the polls is really shorter because state offices, such as state driver’s license centers and county elections bureaus, are typically closed on weekends, Democrats said.
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said systems are in place to prevent duplicate or erroneous registration. It also warned lawmakers that the additional step of requiring poll workers to check photo IDs will lengthen Election Day lines at polling places and create voter confusion but provide no extra security for ballots.
The bill also was opposed by AARP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, labor unions and good-government groups. Some of the groups, as well as the Obama campaign, pledged information campaigns to educate voters.
Last week, a similar law in Wisconsin was stayed by a judge, preventing it from taking effect for that state’s April 3 primary. The judge acted after hearing testimony from 40 residents who described the costs and difficulties they encountered in trying to obtain an ID.
Corbett said he believes voter turnout will increase, and Republicans said they are confident the bill will withstand scrutiny.
“It’s simple, straightforward, it’s designed to ensure the integrity of everybody’s vote,” said House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County. “It’s ‘Here is an ID, a photo ID, and if you need to get a photo ID, we’ll give you one for free.’¤”
Democrats contend that getting a photo ID from the state will not be free or easy, noting that applying for supporting paperwork such as birth certificates and passports costs money and that getting them takes months.
Also, the six-day window after the election allowed by the measure for a voter to supply photo ID to elections officials if they don’t have one at the polls is really shorter because state offices, such as state driver’s license centers and county elections bureaus, are typically closed on weekends, Democrats said.
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said systems are in place to prevent duplicate or erroneous registration. It also warned lawmakers that the additional step of requiring poll workers to check photo IDs will lengthen Election Day lines at polling places and create voter confusion but provide no extra security for ballots.
The bill also was opposed by AARP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, labor unions and good-government groups. Some of the groups, as well as the Obama campaign, pledged information campaigns to educate voters.
The new law:
A voter must show ID. The acceptable forms must be current, show the individual’s name, photograph, expiration date and be issued by:
—The U.S. government, state government or a municipal or county government in Pennsylvania.
— PennDOT.
— An accredited public or private institution of higher education in Pennsylvania.
— A nursing home, assisted-living home or personal-care home in Pennsylvania.
Exceptions include:
— Nonphoto driver’s license or ID cards issued by PennDOT for voters who have a religious objection to being photographed.
— A PennDOT ID that has expired within the last year.
— U.S. armed forces IDs that show an indefinite expiration date.
— Absentee-ballot voters, who may provide their driver’s license number or, if they do not have a license, the last four digits of their Social Security number.
People without proper ID may:
— Cast a provisional ballot on Election Day and within six days submit a valid photo identification to county elections officials in person or by e-mail or fax.
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of State, Pennsylvania Senate, House Bill 934
A voter must show ID. The acceptable forms must be current, show the individual’s name, photograph, expiration date and be issued by:
—The U.S. government, state government or a municipal or county government in Pennsylvania.
— PennDOT.
— An accredited public or private institution of higher education in Pennsylvania.
— A nursing home, assisted-living home or personal-care home in Pennsylvania.
Exceptions include:
— Nonphoto driver’s license or ID cards issued by PennDOT for voters who have a religious objection to being photographed.
— A PennDOT ID that has expired within the last year.
— U.S. armed forces IDs that show an indefinite expiration date.
— Absentee-ballot voters, who may provide their driver’s license number or, if they do not have a license, the last four digits of their Social Security number.
People without proper ID may:
— Cast a provisional ballot on Election Day and within six days submit a valid photo identification to county elections officials in person or by e-mail or fax.
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of State, Pennsylvania Senate, House Bill 934
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