Sunday, October 21, 2012
Poll workers can ask for your photo identification but you still can cast your ballot without it.
One of the provisions of Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson's ruling on the state’s voting law will permit poll workers to ask for photo identification but allows voters to cast a ballot without subsequently having to show their ID. Simpson ruled Oct. 2 that Pennsylvania's tough new Voter ID Law should be put on hold until after the Nov. 6 general election. His decision strikes down two provisions of the law that would have required voters without identification to show their IDs within six days of voting or appear before the county board of elections. The state will still be allowed to educate voters about the new identification requirement. Supporters argue that the law signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March will prevent voter fraud. …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Commonwealth Court judge rules after hearing two days of testimony. An appeal to the state Supreme Court is possible.
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 disenfranchises voters—especially the young, poor and elderly, who tend to vote for Democrats. Supporters say the law will …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
In order to get the state-issued Voter ID card, an individual need only give his or her name, date of birth, social security number and address. The Voter ID will be given at the PennDOT licensing center the same day.
tate officials announced Tuesday that all voters can choose to receive either secure PennDOT photo IDs or Department of State voting-only ID cards when visiting a PennDOT driver’s license center. In order to get the state-issued Voter ID card, an individual need only give his or her name, date of birth, social security number and address. Proof of residence is not required. PennDOT will then confirm with the Department of State that the applicant is a registered voter while the person is at the driver license center. The applicant will get a DOS voter ID card once the information is confirmed. If an applicant’s voter registration or information cannot be confirmed while at PennDOT, then the Department of State will mail the voter ID card …
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Allegheny County is offering free Photo ID cards for any residents who need one to vote.
Allegheny County is offering two new ways for voters without proper Photo ID to get identification cards. The Community College of Allegheny County and the county’s four Kane Hospital centers will be the hubs to issue specialized photo identification to any residents if they need one to vote. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald on Thursday morning announced the effort to get as many residents proper identification. “I firmly believe that anyone who wants to participate in our democracy through elections should have every opportunity to do so. That is what we are doing today,” Fitzgerald said in a press release. “Through our Kane Regional Centers and CCAC, we are going to provide the ability for people to get the photo identification…
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The state Supreme Court is pushing the Voter ID law back to Commonwealth Court for further review.
The state Supreme Court is pushing Pennsylvania's new Voter ID law back to Commonwealth Court for further review, multiple news organizations are reporting. A week after hearing oral arguments, the justices voted 4-2 to have the lower court once again review the measures included in the law. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson on Aug. 15 released his decision that parties challenging the Voter ID law were not able to prove it will cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the electorate. However, the justices want the court to reconsider whether there are enough alternative forms of identification allowed by the law so as not to disenfranchise voters, according to PennLive.com. The order from the Supreme Court justices insinuates that …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A local group plans to present petitions on Thursday in downtown Pittsburgh calling on Allegheny County election officials not to enforce the new voter ID law this November.
Opponents of Pennsylvania's new voter ID will make their case Thursday before the state Supreme Court. There's no timeframe for a ruling from the court—but the Nov. 6 General Election is fast approaching. Oct. 9 is the last day to register to vote. 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 …
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Democrats say his remarks prove political motivation behind the bill.
Democrats are criticizing a comment from State House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, about the newly enacted voter identification law. Sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, the law requires voters to show photo identification before they vote at the polls. After a dry run in the April primary, it is scheduled to take effect for the Nov. 6 general election. Speaking at a meeting of the Republican State Committee in Hershey over the weekend, Turzai was listing the accomplishments of the state House and Senate, when he pointed to the new law. "Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it's done," Mr. Turzai said. "First pro-life legislation -- abortion facility regulations -- in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The vote to sue was strictly along party lines.
By a 2-1 vote, Allegheny County’s election board has decided to file a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s new voter identification law. The two Democrats, board chairman John DeFazio and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, voted to sue, while Republican Heather Heidelbaugh voted against the measure. The results of the vote were hardly surprising. Fitzgerald and several other key county Democrats already announced their intention to challenge the law. The law, sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, requires voters to show photo identification before they vote at the polls. After a dry run in the April primary, it is scheduled to take effect for the Nov. 6 general election. The new Voter ID Act requires each elector who appears to…
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The law will apply to all voters in November's general election.
Beverly Dewhirst didn't bring her driver's license when she showed up to vote Tuesday evening. "It's in the car," she told poll workers at the Leetsdale municipal building. Dewhirst, 60, of Leetsdale was told she would need photo ID in November in order to vote in the fall election. For the time being, she didn't have to trek back to the parking lot to get it. "Today I didn't know they wanted it," she said, adding that she wouldn't have hesitated to fetch it from her car if necessary. "It'd be a pain, but I'd go get it." Polling places were preparing voters for the presidential contest in November by asking for identification. Come November, all voters—no matter how long they have been voting—must show photo ID, thanks to a new state law…
Friday, March 16, 2012
The law requires voters to present photo identification at the polls, starting with a test run at next month's primary.
Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday night signed into law legislation that will require voters to present identification at the polls. The legislation requires every voter to present proof of identification at every election, beginning with a test run during the April 24 primary. Voters will be asked to provide photo ID for the primary, but will still be allowed to vote if they don’t have it. Those who do not have a photo ID will be able to acquire one at no charge from the state Department of Transportation’s photo centers. Information on the process and what is needed to get a photo ID can be found at http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/voter/voteridlaw.shtml. Matthew Keeler, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State, said the department …
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7:30 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Kathleen the DMV downtown Pittsburgh does photo ID's. Many people that work in town go there to get their drivers license renewed and photo's taken on their lunch hour. You are a typical democrat boohooing. more ›