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Voter ID Case Goes to Pa. Supreme Court Today

The Pa. Supreme Court will hear from opponents of the state's new Voter ID law on Thursday.

Opponents of Pennsylvania's new voter ID will make their case Thursday before the state Supreme Court.

There's no time frame for a ruling from the court - but the Nov. 6 General Election is fast approaching. 

The Supreme Court is composed of three Republican and three Democratic justices (a seventh judge was suspended while she faces criminal charges). A 3-3 tie would affirm the decision of the lower court, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

Commonwealth Court in August.

Supporters say the law will prevent voter fraud and imposes the same photo ID standard required in many common circumstances.

Challengers say the law is designed to disenfranchise poor and elderly voters who often support Democratic candidates. They cite as evidence state Rep. Mike Turzai's declaration that the law will allow Mitt Romney to win Pennsylvania.

A key question in the Supreme Court case will be how strictly courts should scrutinize voting rules, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report.

Voters can now at PennDOT driver's license centers so they can comply with the law. As of Friday, PennDOT had issued only 7,226 IDs for voting purposes. 

A few weeks ago, a federal three-judge panel ruled that a similar voter-ID law in Texas discriminates against poor and minority voters. In a "friend of the court" brief filed against the Pennsylvania law, a group of law professors argued that federal courts have struck down less stringent laws in three other states, Missouri, Georgia and Wisconsin, according to this editorial.

George September 14, 2012 at 05:55 pm
@Fly on the Windshield: PennDOT says approximately 9% of registered voters don't have the correct ID. We can quibble about who those people are, but the numbers run to a bit over 750,000 people. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec12/pennsylvania_07-24.html. PennDOT cannot issue that many IDs between now and the election. That alone should be reason to put this law on hold until after the November election. The infrastructure cannot accommodate all who need the ID.
There is no reason why this needs to go into effect today. Why can't this wait until December to take effect, thereby giving everyone time to get a new ID before the next election. PS: It's obvious you do not have much experience with the elderly when you throw around careless statements like this. One day, you will be old. I suggest getting to understand what that will be like so you can prepare yourself.
Ronnie DelBacco September 14, 2012 at 06:15 pm
@John,
AMEN! (oops, that might sound too religious for some posting here.)
Marc Lombardi September 14, 2012 at 06:22 pm
Loans are available from banks, too, but that doesn't mean everyone can easily get one.
As for the bogus "IDs are needed for so many other things" argument: You specifically mention credit cards. Not all uses of credit cards require an ID (ordering something online, for example). Additionally, using a credit card is not a constitutional right while voting is. Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, gambling at the Sugar House, flying on a plane and the littany of other "times you need ID" examples that those in favor of the ID laws keep parading out are NOT constitutional rights. Voting is. That is the difference. THAT is why I don't think we should be rushing an ID law into place and certainly not in the year of a Presidential election. But that goes deep into the heart of the reason it's being done now an not (for example) when Corbett would be up for re-election.
Tony September 14, 2012 at 07:14 pm
0.0 cases reported. $11 million of tax dollars wasted. Thanks PA Repubs
Publius 2.0 September 14, 2012 at 07:38 pm
Crestor, I understand your concern. So, I assume you would fully support a mandatory pictute ID for all purchasers of any type of gun, including longarms as well as ammunition. Right?
Publius 2.0 September 14, 2012 at 07:44 pm
If upheld, the Voter ID law will create a precedent that the Government may require a secure picture ID for persons to purchase or own any guns or ammunition. So, if you think about, this is a way for the Republicans to introduce gun control secretly and behind the backs of their own supporters. Precious.
Tony September 14, 2012 at 08:13 pm
lol. well i guess they shot their selves in the #$#.
Randell Jesup September 14, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Not all Student IDs have expiration dates. Not all voters (especially elderly voters, doubly so those who grew up in the south) can even get a birth certificate - and if they do it costs money (and time). And those jurisdictions want proof before sending you a birth certificate - people whose SS card has a nickname on it (it happened a fair bit, especially before the 80's) don't match and oftimes get rejected to get their birth certificate. There's a former Assistant DA in Philly who can't get one for that reason - catch-22. (She has her (expired) DA ID card, but can't use that.)
And in-person SAT fraud is probably 1000 times more common (or more, likely) than in-person voting fraud. In-person SAT fraud will get you kicked out of the test, and the person you took it for will have to take it again later (may even be barred). In-person voting fraud is a federal felony punishable by jail - and there's hugely less incentive for anyone to take that risk for 1 vote; while students (and parents especially!) will pay people (other students) thousands of dollars to get little Johnny into the "right" college by acing the test.
Morgan King September 15, 2012 at 02:22 am
I just heard today that the Community College of Philadelphia is letting students and alumni exchange their Student IDs for ones with expiration dates for free so that they can vote - I thought that was pretty awesome. Their management might be boneheaded in general, but that's a great call. Hopefully it won't be necessary for November, though - reports from the Court seem to indicate they aren't terribly pleased with the law going into deliberations.
Bill September 15, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Tony, the key word in your statement is "reported". How do you catch voter fraud when a person can just walk in and say I'm John Doe and then vote as John Doe. Once he has voted an left the polling place, there's no way to prove otherwise. He could do this many times using different names and no one would know. If he needed an ID he could not perpetrate such a fraud.
Walter September 15, 2012 at 02:53 pm
Get a life people.
This new requirement does not affect one party more than the other. It is a sound idea that makes sense for all. It is a free process. If you wish to accomplish it, you will. There are people who spend months, maybe years, studying to obtain their citizenship so that they may have the right to vote. I truly admire those that do. Those of you that won’t spend a few hours out of your day to obtain / maintain your right to vote disgust me.
Morgan King September 15, 2012 at 03:26 pm
Walter - What part of that is confusing?
William DeAngelis September 15, 2012 at 04:21 pm
12:17 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
Each county has some selective rules for voting including the ballot mechanism.. The one where I vote requires the signature of the intended voter next to the signature of the individual as registered. Faking, copying a signature while an inspector is watching isn't easy, especially knowing that it is very likely someone in the voting room is likely to know the "real" registered voter. So that makes it a highly unlikely place to commit fraud. So this new law has changed the rules for persons already registered to vote, if it places an immediate burden or effectively denies a vote to a registered voter it is unconstitutional. Thus, the elderly, the citizen without a PennDot license, the physically handicapped, the military, the retired military whose Federal ID does NOT have an expiration date, like my wife's or mine. All have an extra hardship to endure because partisan elected officials have imposed new sanctions on certain classes of citizens with the INTENT of denying or inhibiting the constitutional right to vote to those registered voters who are not likely to vote for the candidate that is the choice of the political party in power.
Andrea Deutsch September 15, 2012 at 05:30 pm
Fly, it is obvious that you have never dealt with an elderly relative who had to go into a nursing care facility. I have. They do not ask for the kind of ID that is being required of the current law. Because many of the residents no longer drive or travel they should not lose their right to vote or be required to jump through huge hoops in order to do so.
ted.dobracki September 15, 2012 at 05:54 pm
There is a much simpler answer. These elderly and others in nursing homes don't need to go anywhere to get their acceptable ID! Photo ID can be issued by a PA care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences or personal care homes. see: http://www.votespa.com/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1174114&parentname=ObjMgr&parentid=4&mode=2
Mohandus Frieri September 15, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Glad to see Bill DeAngelis is still kicking around. I always liked him. Mind you he was a lifelong Republican (in name only). Former Norristown mayor and involved in every change to Norristown's charter.
Glad to see he has come around. The former Republican base has largely abandoned this current Republican party.
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David Curran September 16, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Why don't you just say it Crestor, if you are a coward vote Rep. Fear this fear that, what a brave American you are. Thank God you were not on the Mayflower, we'd all be hiding behind Plymouth Rock dodging arrows.
Bye Bye Romney September 16, 2012 at 03:35 pm
Sheldon Adelson, Romney's uber-billionaire casino owner and financial backer, pledged to give Romney $100 million -- or "whatever it takes" -- to defeat Obama.
Do you know why??? As Bill Clinton reminded us, sometimes the answer is as simple as arithmetic. So let's do the math: According to a new report from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Adelson will get $2 billion in tax savings from Romney in return for his support. And it will be paid for by every taxpayer reading this blog, so pass the word QUICKLY. If Obama wins, everyone pays their fair share of taxes...including Mr. Adelson! Tell me... WHICH ONE IS MORE FAIR FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES? WHICH ONE CAN YOU AFFORD? Americans cannot afford to live the Romney-Ryan lifestyle without having the same personal wealth. We can DREAM...but we know that it's not reality. Romney is still dreaming.
Morgan King September 16, 2012 at 04:44 pm
Bill, he would still have to know the name of a person on that particular district's voter list and have had that person not already voted, and if the real guy does eventually vote later, it ends up flagged and dealt with. Regardless, I don't think the issue here, for most people, is the idea of requiring an ID, as much as it is the rush to implement the system which leaves hundreds of thousands or previously registered voters without one. That's something that can be remedied in 2 years, not in 2 months.
Tony September 17, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Bill, reported as being fact. To that aspect, there has been voter fraud. I believe the number is 10 cases of that very instance you stated. However, and this is the most important part now for the state of PA, there are 0 cases of voter fraud. Just as there has been sightings of bigfoot and the lochness monster, there has been no solid concrete proof they exist. Now in this economic times, if we were to push $11 million of our tax dollars to find concrete evidence, then there would be an uproar. Just as the PA repubs just wasted another $11 million on voter fraud that has existed. Haha...fiscal conservatives my butt
Mike Shortall September 17, 2012 at 04:38 pm
Well, that would be $2 billion to be invested and made available to the U.S. Economy, which is receiving absolutely ZERO Leadership from The White House, instead of being funneled through the U.S. Government for worthless freebies.
ted.dobracki September 17, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Morgan makes a good point - in order for some one to vote for a fictious person (like those created by Acorn in many recently documented events) ot a deceased person, you would have to only need to know their name and address. Voter ID will prevent these two types of frauds.
Bill September 18, 2012 at 01:24 am
We certainly can't afford Obama - http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/09/17/Report-Top-Obama-Bundlers-Bag-Millions-In-Taxpayer-Money
Morgan King September 18, 2012 at 02:49 am
Bill - is the scandal here supposed to be that 1 of 50 major donors was nominated (and ultimately withdrew) for an ambassadorship? The last President did that by the hundreds:
http://scholarsandrogues.wordpress.com/2007/06/25/bushs-patronage-appointments-to-ambassador-exceed-fathers-clintons/ Or that 4 out of the top 50 donors went on to serve on (largely unpaid) citizens advisory boards or council appointments? Bush, again, did it by the hundreds: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020902519.html Or is it that business owners who stood to benefit from the policies Obama campaigned on (funding hybrids and public transportation infrastructure) raised money for that campaign, and then benefited when those policies were ultimately enacted? That's hardly a newsworthy revelation.
David Curran September 18, 2012 at 10:56 am
Hey Mitt, prove that you are among the 53% of Americans who are not lazy and do not have an entitlement mentality- show us your taxes! This guy is a spoiled rich kid who is not worthy to be our President, but that's what he wants. And when little Mitt wants something, he gets it. Doesn't matter how many people he hurts or insults along the way. What a jerk
Mike Shortall September 18, 2012 at 01:50 pm
Spoiled rich kid is hysterical, as if The President worked his butt off to get where he is. Exactly how much "work" is involved in being a "community organizer" or a State Senator for that matter. 143 days physically present in the U.S. Senate to get elected President!
Obama is a cult of personality with absolutely no accomplishments - other than convincing people to vote for him - to his credit before becoming President! If you want to look at tax returns, look at the Obamas and how LITTLE they gave to others before they started to play hard ball in politics. Talk about your elitists, holding onto whatever they can! The Romneys have given MILLIONS in just the past two years! There is nothing in the Romneys' tax returns aside from success in business and Economic Leadership! Something sorely lacking from President Obama ...
Morgan King September 18, 2012 at 04:53 pm
Yes, MILLIONS of tax-deductible charity donations, ~80% of which went right back to his own church (in 2009 and 2010, the two years we have tax records for). The second largest beneficiary of his charitable donations? The George W. Bush Library & Museum.
http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romneys-charitable-donations-mormon-church-2012-7 http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-charitable-donations-2012-7
George September 18, 2012 at 05:56 pm
Well, there you have it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/18/pennsylvania-voter-id-law_n_1894069.html. We can talk more about this later.

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An interested bystander May 6, 2013 at 05:29 pm
Just pointing out facts. You are also forgetting that money withdrawn from an IRA or 401k (exceptRead More Roth IRAs) are taxed at withdrawal. I prefer my government not punish good financial actions. Sorry it's a quirk of mine, I think we should reward those who make good decisions, not punish them.
Tony Simek May 6, 2013 at 06:35 pm
I agree with you Interested Bystander. Problem is that if you punish the ones making the badRead More decisions, the Federal government will be punished all the time. In the current climate, poor decision making gets rewarded by voters. The middle class doesn't have a chance.
Bill May 9, 2013 at 05:11 am
Naziti and Caroline Johnson so sorry to take so long to get back to you from your comments onRead More Sunday, May 5th, I didn't think I would have to respond. I re-posted Ken's comment because the REAL issue is "AARP selling out it's faithful supporters for BIG MONEY. So let me break it down so even the Soros trolls understand. ObamaCare guts SS and medicare reserve money by 750 Billion. Which ends these programs as we know them. AARP publicly backs ObamaCare. Seniors confused about OCare but trust AARP and their massive ad campaign for OCare. AARP contributes to re-election AARP becomes insurance provided for OCare. Unleashes host of insurance options that Seniors will be needing to make decisions about in next 2-3 years. Complicate the choices for Seniors so they fall back on who they have trusted in the past. Still unaware of the great deception perpetrated by AARP. OCARE fully enacted 2014. AARP gets steady $$$ insurance income now (not $16 membership fees for whoever posted that line above). SS and MediCare bankrupt (3/4 trillion $ stolen to fund OCare) Result for SENIORS. NO SS or MEDicare it's dissolved or becomes something less. Free OCare that sucks. Pay AARP for supplemental Ins. Prescriptions too expensive to purchase so go without or pay AARP for better plan. AARP richer and more powerful represents Gvmt Seniors - Self rule lost You see they screwed the very people that paid dues for their protection!