Harrisburg – September 18, 2012 — Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement on the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to vacate the Commonwealth Court’s ruling on the state’s controversial voter ID law.
The court sent the case back to the Commonwealth Court to ascertain if the law is being implemented correctly and whether voters reasonably have access to voter ID cards:
“In vacating the decision, the court left it to the Commonwealth Court to determine if the photo ID law is being implemented properly and whether there is liberal access to voter ID cards in compliance with the legislative intent of the law.
“The facts of the case haven’t changed. There was ample and overwhelming evidence presented during the Commonwealth Court’s hearing of this case to conclude that there are multiple obstacles that voters must navigate in order to gain a valid voter ID that permits them to cast a vote that will be counted on Election Day.
“This case is about voter suppression and the partisan attempt to influence the General Election. The right to vote and a citizen’s access to the ballot box must be guaranteed. Unquestionably, there continues to be problems with the current, expedited implementation of the law.
“Given the short time line for Commonwealth Court to consider the case and determine the status of the law, it appears that the only decision is on issuing the injunction.”
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