 Court Rejects Voter ID Requirement:
No ID Required in November
On October 2, Commonwealth Court granted a preliminary injunction that prevents Pennsylvania's new voter photo ID requirement from being implemented at the polls in November. The court’s ruling preserves the rights of all citizens to vote on Election Day, November 6 without the need for an ID.
To be clear, the court did not invalidate the law and conceivably voters will be required to show valid IDs in elections beginning next spring.
In a statement released after the ruling was handed down I said:
"There has been so much controversy about this law, I still believe that some voters will not come out to vote fearing that they do not have the proper ID and therefore be disenfranchised.
|
The simmering controversy and confusion is the product of a new law that would have required all voters to show a valid photo ID on Election Day.
However, the court indicated that the uneven implementation of the law and the failure of some voters to get their photo IDs may result in voters being disenfranchised this November. In court hearings, disparate impact of the law on seniors, minorities, low-income citizens, college students and others was demonstrated.
The court ruling means that this November's election will be administered as others were handled in the past. Election officials may ask for your photo ID but if you do not have an ID it will not prevent you from casting your vote.
It is important to continue educating voters about the provisions of the law and the eventual need to get a valid photo ID.
 Below please find my thoughts on this issue and the court's decision:
"In my view, the court's decision is the correct one in blocking the voter ID law from taking effect this November.
"There has been so much controversy about this law, I still believe that some voters will not come out to vote fearing that they do not have the proper ID and therefore be disenfranchised.
"The ruling means that voters will not be prevented from casting their votes and having them counted on Election Day this November.
|
Download Supplemental Determination on Application for Preliminary Injunction
Click Here to Read a Summary of the Court's Opinion in the Voter ID Case
 Stay Connected
For updates on this and other legislative initiatives, stay in touch with me on the Internet through my website or on Facebook.
|
