iradiophilly | News - ID Requirement of PA Voter ID Law Suspended; No ID needed to Vote in November

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ID Requirement of PA Voter ID Law Suspended; No ID needed to Vote in November

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 10/02/12 3:43 pm | updated: 10/02/12 3:43 pm

A Commonwealth Court judge issued a temporary injuction today blocking part of the Voter ID law from taking effect before the November general elections. Registered voters will not have to present the identification listed in the controversial law in order to cast a ballot on Nov. 6. Judge Robert E. Simpson Jr. rejected the notion that the offending activity was simply asking a voter for ID, but rather potential voter disenfranchisement if they could not produce an ID.

As written, those without ID could cast a provisional ballot and return with proper identification within 6 days to have that vote count. However Simpson believes disenfranchisement could occur in two ways, first if they could not get an ID to return in time and second because provisional ballots are open for challenge at a later date. This election will be treated like the primary, a 'soft rollout', where ID's may be asked for at polling places but not required to vote.

The law's sponsor, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler said "Justice Simpson's final decision is out of bounds with the rule of law, constitutional checks and balances for the individual branches of state government, and most importantly, the will of the people," he said, adding the ruling was "skewed in favor of the lazy who refuse to exercise the necessary work ethic to meet the commonsense requirements to obtain an acceptable photo ID."

State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, an opponent, said, "It appears to be a clear victory for the right to vote and an example of a judge and the Supreme Court fulfilling the courts' historic role of protecting people's right to vote and resisting the attempt by a temporary majority to disenfranchise the minority."

Judge Simpson did uphold the law, just postponed part of it for this election. The Commonwealth can continue to educate the voters on the requirements of the law and have people obtain proper identification for future elections. The full Voter ID law could be in effect at a later date. This specific decision is open for appeal.

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