The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is on the verge of passing a bill that will affect your voting rights. And not in a good way.
The vote may happen some time on Thursday. Let’s try to stop them from doing bad things. Can you email your elected representatives RIGHT NOW?! (Just click the link. It is super easy. Promise.)
If passed, this bill (HB 934) would mandate that all voters show a government-issued photo ID. We know that this new law will just make it harder for certain groups of people – namely students, seniors, and low-income people – to vote.
In a recent study, we found that Pennsylvania’s voting system is among the 10 least accessible in the country (they scored at 30%) and is already failing young voters. The new photo ID bill would push it even further down the list.
It is estimated that 11% of the voting-age population doesn’t have current valid photo ID, and approximately 18% of seniors, 25% of African Americans, and 15% of people making less than $35,000 are without photo IDs. Many people lack the mobility or ability to get their “free” ID. Out-of-state students who legally vote in Pennsylvania may have to keep their current driver’s license to stay on their parents’ insurance. Urban dwellers who don’t have cars may not need a driver’s license. Seniors may not be mobile enough to get to the DMV. Others may not have a birth certificate in order to get an ID.
Because the state would be required to provide IDs to anyone who doesn’t have one, the law will cost taxpayers more than $10 million to implement in the first year. Pennsylvania is in a budget crisis – including facing $625 million in cuts to higher education and college aid – but politicians want to spend your money to make it harder for people to vote.
These costs are being imposed on you because supporters say the new law will reduce voter fraud. The rub: Pennsylvania doesn’t have a problem with voter fraud. In fact, the non-partisan County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania has testified that there is no evidence of a problem with fraudulent voting.
There are plenty of ways to make sure voters are who they say they are at the polls. Pennsylvania already has a system that works. Don’t let politicians play expensive games with your rights.
So, Pennsylvanians, contact your representatives RIGHT NOW and use your voice to protect voting rights.
Tags: Pennsylvania, photo ID, suppression is un-American
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Thomas Bates Bio: Thomas is Rock the Vote's Vice President of Civic Engagement. @BatesThomas Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
The American citizens’ right to select their representatives via a free and fair election system is critical to our constitutional republic. Further, it is up to we the people to ensure the integrity of our election system. I work the polls during elections and it is virtually impossible to know that the person holding a piece of paper with a name and address is indeed that person without knowing that individual. Also, once that person is allowed to vote and leave the polls, it is virtually impossible to locate and prosecute that person for voter fraud. Surely, we demand more from our election system.
Requiring voters to show a photo ID as identification to vote provides greater assurance of their identity or provides poll workers with immediate information needed to stop improper voting. Survey’s support that more than 8 out of 10 Americans have photo IDs today. Further, it is common practice for photo IDs to be requested if not required as identification to obtain medical and social/welfare services, to execute financial transactions, to access transportation services, or to get a job. Those without IDs are limited in their ability to conduct these day-to-day activities simply by lacking a photo ID. Photo ID laws also provide a means for those without these IDs to obtain these photo IDs at state taxpayer expense. These IDs not only improve election system integrity, but also remove the day-to-day disadvantages for those who lack photo IDs. Given this common sense understanding, I must question the motives of those who stand against these photo ID laws. At best this appears to be political spin aimed to misinform and rally select groups of people or at worst a direct act to leave our election process open to fraudsters.
You say “there are plenty of ways to make sure voters are who they say they are at the polls.” Can you name some of these ways? Are there other forms of photo ID’s? I can think of student ID’s. What other forms of photo ID’s are there?
If people are serious about voting, they should put forth the effort to acquire a photo ID. This type of law would prevent voting fraud, abuse, and prevent those who legally shouldn’t vote from voting. Your argument that PA does not have a problem with voter fraud is weak and moot. A law like this would assure voting legality and bolster the integrity of the vote.
If we let every Tom, Dick, and Harry, and every other citizen with questionable legality to vote, our political process would be a joke. If a person has a sincere interest to vote, they can endure the hardship of acquiring a photo ID.
I understand that the liberal position is to have ANYBODY be able to vote and as many times as they can get away with. These people with questionable legality to vote constitute the base of the liberal movement.
#2 Here are some examples of ways to make sure people are who they say they are: a broader list of photo IDs than the PA bill would allow, including student IDs, tribal IDs, employee cards; non-photo IDs that many, many other states allow, like utility bills, Social Security cards, ; signature verification (i.e., I have to sign my name when I get my ballot); strictly enforcing perjury laws that are already on the books, including allowing those without an ID to sign an affidavit saying they are who they say they are under penalty of law (which is what some states do now). I agree it would be desirable for everyone to have a photo ID, but that just isn’t the case. And the fact that there isn’t voter fraud – which is the reason supporters of photo ID cite for pushing these laws – hardly seems moot. If you are going to impose “hardships” on voting (your word), there should be a legitimate reason for doing so.
#1 I’d invite you to read my extended thoughts on the matter here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-bates/photo-id-vote_b_855220.html.
Thomas, I have accepted your invitation and read your extended thoughts. My comments are unchanged because they are provided based on my personal experience at the polls. Photo ID better equips poll workers to prevent fraud at the polls. Photo ID alone is not enough, but it is a major improvement for those of us who set party aside and simply want free and fair elections. Increased training for poll workers and better oversight at the polls are also key to improving election integrity.