Report Cites Voter Troubles Obtaining Photo ID
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center sent a team of volunteers to PennDOT licensing centers, where they found a lack of signage and information about Pennsylvania’s new Voter ID law. They also noted that in three out of every ten cases, individuals were told they had to pay for an ID that should have been made available for free.
“With three months to go until Election Day, the Commonwealth has a lot of work to do to ensure that voters will not be disenfranchised,” says PBPC director Sharon Ward. The report recommends a delay in the implementation of Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law.
Questioned about the report’s findings at an unrelated stop in Franklin County, Governor Tom Corbett was not concerned. “I think in the individual [PennDOT] offices they are working hard. I think sometimes direction can be better, and it’s a learning process,” Corbett told reporters. He stressed that there’s still plenty of time to obtain a photo ID by the November 6th election.
Corbett also notes that there are other forms of valid photo identification under the law besides a PennDOT ID card.
Meanwhile, a Commonwealth Court judge is expected to rule on a “preliminary injunction” regarding the controversial new law later this month. No matter which side loses the court case, the decision will be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
