Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tuesday's court ruling will allow voters to cast ballots on Nov. 6 without showing photo ID at the polls
Judge Robert Simpson issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday morning, halting part of Pennsylvania's tough new Voter ID Law from affecting the November presidential election. While the decision does not repeal the law that requires citizens to show photo identification to vote, if upheld, the ruling allows registered voters to cast ballots without an ID. Any appeal of Tuesday's ruling will be expedited by the state Supreme Court since Election Day is just five weeks away. To issue an injunction on the law, Simpson was tasked to consider two questions: Simpson, of Nazareth, is a former Northampton County judge. What do you think of the ruling? Tell us in the comments section below. Both supporters and opponents of the law reacted to the …
State Sen. Lisa Boscola lauds Voter ID court decision, says she called for delay in implementation before law was adopted in March.
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Wednesday, October 3, 2012
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18, issued a statement Tuesday applauding Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson’s ruling to delay implementation of the controversial Pennsylvania Voter ID Law until after this year's presidential election. In her statement, Boscola offered a reminder that she called for delayed implementation of the law before it was adopted in March, in essence telling her Senate GOP colleagues: “I told you so.” Here is the full text of the statement: “While I understand and support efforts to deter voter fraud, the state has demonstrated an inability to ensure individuals have access to the proper ID. “Since enactment, both PennDOT and State Department officials have given confusing and unreliable advice to those seeking …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Rep. Mike Turzai stands by controversial Pa. Voter ID law
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) iissued a statement in response to today’s Commonwealth Court decision on the voter identification law. Turzai is closely linked to the Voter ID controversy because of his comment that the new law would help Gov. Mitt Romney win Pennsylvania. Turzai said Tuesday: “Today’s decision by the Commonwealth Court upholds Act 18, and voter identification, and that is good. “Voter Identification is about ensuring the integrity of our elections and preserving the principle of the ‘One person, One vote’ doctrine. “When votes are diluted through fraud, the system starts to break down. Voter identification has always been about creating a level playing field where every Pennsylvanian’s vote …
Judge Robert Simpson ruled Tuesday that implementation of Pennsylvania's new Voter ID law be put on hold until after the Nov. 6 general election.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A judge ruled today that Pennsylvania's tough new Voter ID Law should be put on hold until after the Nov. 6 general election, according to an Associated Press report. The ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, which said it would expedite any further action in the case since Election Day is just five weeks away. Do you agree with the ruling? Tell us in the comments section below. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson heard two days of testimony last week, as directed by the Supreme Court, to determine whether the state has made it easy enough to get a photo ID in order to vote. Opponents say the law, and the process to get an ID, disenfranchises voters. Supporters say the law will prevent voter fraud - but that justification …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday's Pa. Supreme Court ruling on a challenge to the Voter ID law now puts the burden on the commonwealth to prove that no voters will be disenfranchised by the photo ID requirement.
It's now up to the Commonwealth to prove that no voters will be disenfranchised by a controversial new Voter ID law after Tuesday's Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling. The high court sent a challenge to the law back down to Commonwwealth Court where a judge has until Oct. 2 to determine if adequate measures are in place for voters to get a free photo ID in time for the Nov. 6 general election Three GOP and one Democratic justice made up the 4-2 majority in the ruling. One of the two dissenting Democrats on the panel accused the court of "punting" and said the law should be blocked now. The court shifted the burden in the case from challengers to the Commonwealth. "We are not satisfied with a mere predictive judgment based primarily on the …
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
A judge now has until Oct. 2 to issue a new opinion on Pennsylvania's Voter ID challenge following a state Supreme Court ruling Tuesday.
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court today sent a challenge to the state's new Voter ID law back to a lower court with instructions for that judge to reconsider issuing an injunction. It's not yet clear how the court decision will affect or possibly block implementation of the law for the Nov. 6 general election, according to a Philly.com report. The decision gave Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson -- a former Northampton County judge and a Nazareth resident -- until Oct. 2 to file a new opinion on the case. Simpson upheld the law last month. The Supreme Court instructed Simpson "to consider whether the procedures being used for deployment" of ID cards comports with the law as written -- which, in testimony before the Supreme Court, appeared …
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The state Supreme Court has little time to decide on the challenge to Pa.'s new Voter ID law
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Saturday, September 15, 2012
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — As Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law goes before the state Supreme Court, the case is a study in contradictions. The eight plaintiffs — who are seeking an injunction to prevent the law from taking effect before the Nov. 6 election because thousands of Pennsylvanians couldn’t obtain the necessary identification in time — possess the required photo identification or other documentation the new law requires to vote. Before voting in Pennsylvania this year, residents must show a photo ID, unless the state Supreme Court strikes down the new law. No matter, say their attorneys, because the law could still disenfranchise about 100,000 other Pennsylvanians who do not have those credentials. “The vice is …
Friday, September 14, 2012
Tuesday, Oct. 9, is the last day to register to vote in the 2012 presidential election.
Any Pennsylvania resident who wants to vote in the Nov. 6 general election has through Tuesday, Oct. 9, to register. Voters can get more information by visiting voter registration websites for Lehigh County and Northampton County or by calling: Lehigh County Voter Registration Northampton County Voter Registration Free photo IDs for voting purposes are available at PennDOT driver's license centers in Allentown and Easton to help residents comply with Pennsylvania's new Voter ID law.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The Pa. Supreme Court will hear from opponents of the state's new Voter ID law on Thursday.
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Thursday, September 13, 2012
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 upheld the law 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. …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Voters need a valid photo ID for the November election and special Voter ID cards are now available at driver's license centers
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — Pennsylvanians have nine weeks and counting to get a valid photo ID in order to vote in November’s general election. The state Department of Transportation began issuing free special “voting-only” photo ID cards at drivers’ license centers statewide last week. In the Lehigh Valley, the free ID cards are available at PennDOT driver's license centers in Allentown and Easton. Residents who want the new ID card will need to provide their name, address, Social Security number and proof of residency. Applicants must complete an application form and sign a document affirming they are registered to vote, but have no other form of identification that can be used at the polls. “Our goal is to ensure that …
WILFREDO G. SALCEDO, Sr.
12:38 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Romney, the better bum. more ›