Pennsylvania's readiness to implement voter ID law questioned
by Clara Ritger, Inquirer Staff Writer, philly.com -- Jul 28, 2012
Concerns were raised Friday in Commonwealth Court that voters, poll workers, and state Department of Transportation employees remain in the dark about Pennsylvania's new voter ID law.
[...]
Witnesses at the hearing Friday said they had issues with the accessibility of PennDot centers. Approximately half of the counties in Pennsylvania either do not have PennDot photo and licensing centers or such centers are open only one or two days each week, according to evidence provided by the plaintiffs.
Concern over whether PennDot employees are adequately prepared to help voters obtain the new ID has been expressed by Secretary of State Carol Aichele, who is responsible for running elections.
Witnesses on the plaintiffs' list have stated in depositions that PennDot charged them for the cost of the new ID, though the IDs are supposed to be free.
[...]
And that's assuming you can even get to a PennDot center on one of the few day's they are opened to "assist you" ...
link to video -- on YouTube; link to video -- on ThinkProgress.
This 93-Year-Old Grandmother Is Suing Pennsylvania Over Voter ID Laws
by Annie-Rose Strasser, thinkprogress.org -- May 7, 2012
The first time Viviette Applewhite went to the polls, she cast her vote for John F. Kennedy. But this year, a strict new voter identification law will likely prevent the now-93-year old woman and many others in Pennsylvania from participating in their country’s democratic process. And Applewhite won’t stand for it.
[...]
Good for her -- we need about 100 more just like her.
Real Americans who just won't stand for it anymore ... the rightwing Rollback Agenda.
Here's what ALL Pennsylvanians need to know, regarding whether or NOT they are still eligible to vote this year:
------ PA ------
Pennsylvania
Voters will be required to show an acceptable photo ID on Election Day. All photo IDs must contain an expiration date that is current, unless noted otherwise. Acceptable IDs include:
* Photo IDs issued by the U.S. Federal Government or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
* PA Driver’s License or Non-driver’s License photo ID (IDs are valid for voting purposes 12 months past expiration date)
* Valid U.S. passport
* U.S. military ID -- active duty and retired military (a military or veteran’s ID must designate an expiration date or designate that the expiration date is indefinite). Military dependents’ ID must contain an expiration date
* Employee photo ID issued by Federal, PA, PA County or PA Municipal government
* Photo ID from an accredited PA public or private institution of higher learning, including colleges, universities, seminaries, community colleges and other two-year colleges
* Photo ID issued by a PA care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences or personal care homes
If you do not have one of these IDs, and require one for voting purposes, you may be entitled to get one FREE OF CHARGE at a PennDOT Driver License Center. To find the Driver License Center nearest you, and learn what supporting documentation you will need to get a photo ID visit PennDOT's Voter ID Website or call the Department of State's Voter ID Hotline at 1-877-VotesPA (868-3772).
Search by Voter Registration
There's more info here about your ever shrinking rights as a US citizen, thanks to
ALEC and their GOP members:
canivote.org
Are you ready to Vote -- legally speaking?
by jamess -- Jul 15, 2012
GOP Senator: "Voter ID is gonna allow Governor Romney to win"
by jamess -- Jul 14, 2012
Pennsylvania Voter ID Law: Election Official Says He Won't Enforce Controversial Rules
by Gene Demby, huffingtonpost.com -- 07/27/2012
An election official in Pennsylvania has said that he will not enforce the state's voter I.D. law.
Christopher Broach, a Democrat from Colwyn, Penn. told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he would continue to honor the state's old voting rules.
"I am taking the stand against the new Republican voter law and hoping that anyone nationally whom has been elected to an office with the title of judge will do just that," Broach said.
[...]
An expert who testified Thursday in the case said that up to one million people could be prevented from voting in the state. The Philadelphia City Paper said that nearly 43 percent of voters in the city may not have valid voter I.D. under the new law.
Last month, Mike Turzai, the state's Republican majority leader, said the voter ID law would help Mitt Romney win the state.
Republicans Hit Justice Department On Voter ID
by Henry C. Jackson, huffingtonpost.com -- 07/26/12
[...]
Another Republican, Rep. Steve King of Iowa, echoed Franks' concerns, saying the decision to contest the Texas and South Carolina laws shows insensitivity by the Justice Department to voter fraud.
"There are a lot of individuals out there who are happy to break the law, who don't even understand it breaks the law," King said of voter fraud. "...We're seeing voter fraud that's pretty prevalent out there."
Election administrators and academics who monitor the issue said in-person fraud is rare because someone would have to impersonate a registered voter and risk arrest. A 2008 Supreme Court case drew detailed briefs from the federal government, 10 states and other groups that identified only nine potential impersonation cases over the span of several years, according to a tally by the Brennan Center at New York University.
As I said, we need more 'Volunteers for America' ...
Real Americans who just won't stand for it anymore ... their rightwing Rollback Agenda ... of our cherished rights and privileges.
Privileges, hard-won over the course of many, many generations.
As the struggle of ordinary Americans to achieve own individual dreams, continues ... even to this day.