More Voter ID Stuff
Numbers from the state elections folks suggest voter ID could be more of a problem for Democrats than Republicans suggest.
More Voter ID Stuff
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Not to rile those who still believe the state's new voter ID law is all about fighting fraud and has nothing to do with depressing the Democratic vote in a General Election year, but...
Gov. Corbett's appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth, Carol Aichele, who's department oversee elections, released some numbers mid-afternoon Tuesday before the July 4 holiday (certainly just a coincidence) that might help Democratic claims that the law has more to do with politics than fraud.
The numbers, as reported in the July 4 Inky, say a match-up of voter registration rolls and PennDOT photo ID data shows that 9% of statewide voters do not have photo IDs.
The secretary initiallly put the number at just 1%.
PennDOT IDs are the most common photo IDs accepted under the new law in order to vote.
The new data shows 758,939 voters could not be matched with PennDOT IDs.
The county-by-county breakdown shows the largest concentration of such voters is in Philly (186,830) and Allegheny County (99,218), both Democratic strongholds.
The total of just these the two counties (286,048) is more than three times the total votes former Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak lost by in his 2010 Senate race against Republican Pat Toomey. Toomey beat Sestak by 80,229 votes.
The just-released numbers include "inactive" voters and those who may have other photo IDs, and the department says it will contact all voters without PennDOT IDs by letter this summer to remind them of the new law.
Still, when coupled with recent remarks by Republican House Leader Mike Turzai that voter ID will "allow" Mitt Romney to carry Pennsylvania this year, the state data seems to bolster claims that fighting fraud isn't the only thing the law's about.
The issue, which is getting national attention, is headed to Commonwealth Court July 25 and, almost certainly, will end up in the state Supreme Court.
Then that just means those citizens have plenty of time to get an ID. There shouldn't be any excuses come November.— Commentdant_Klink- IF Corrupt Corbett and Repubs Really wanted to help people in PA get the photo ID -- then they should've extended PennDOT open hours and hired more Penndot staff.
This is Obvious Voter Suppression by PA Repubs.
— pal 
Producing a valid ID to vote should be the law in all 50 states. Georgia's voter ID law has passed Supreme Court scrutiny. PA's law was modeled on the GA law. Announce a new entitlement that requires a valid government ID and you would see people lining up for an ID the next day.- route66west: Almost all government entitlements require photo ID. Can't open a bank account without one; can't cash a check without one; can't apply for welfare or food stamps without one. In Barack Obama's America, you can be compelled to show proof of HEALTH INSURANCE or face a penalty, but not proof of IDENTIFICATION.— critias
- This comment has been deleted. — Cuddles
- Since when is opening a bank account guaranteed in the Constitution? Since when is insurance guaranteed in the Constitution. Another stupid repub arguement, like the broccoli one they keep throwing out there. But, repubsa are all in lockstep and follow the gop guidelines religiously. SHows they cannot think for themselves, just like lemmings. — mike l
- NOT true. Banks and many Govt offices will accept Social Security info as verification of a persons ID.
— pal - So critias, I would be correct in saying that all of the crying about poor and elderly peoples' right to vote being suppressed is plain nonsense ?
- "Not to rile those who still believe the state's new voter ID law is all about fighting fraud and has nothing to do with depressing the Democratic vote in a General Election year, but"...
....interesting, so what/who is the "Democratic vote"?....and do these same "voters" show IDs when they get stopped for speeding, get carded at a bar, when they fly??? Really, I don't understand why this is a problem other than Libs wanting to enhance their chances in the General Election by allowing folks who really aren't eligible to vote..... are they that worried???— sarah89 - This comment has been deleted. — Cuddles
- Get back to us when you can point to any empirical data demonstrating that the urban vote has actually decreased in states with voter ID laws. I won't hold my breath, since there is no such data. — jfar86
- This comment has been deleted. — Cuddles
- Your link to a site touting "progressive ideas" provides plenty of rhetoric, but no empirical evidence. Do you need a definition of empirical?
Here is a link to a study showing an increase after voter ID laws in Indiana (the law that was upheld in a majority opinion written by Justice Stevens):
https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/2549— jfar86 - We wouldn't want to have fair voting in Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties. How will the bosses be able to steal the election. I guess Obama will have to dial up the New Black Panther party and George Soros to get some muscle. Maybe they can add the SEIU and Occupy Philadelphia.— Tired of Journos
John is the author of the book "On The Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting" (The History Press, 2012). Reach John at baerj@phillynews.com.
