Trial is set to begin for Pa.'s disputed voter-ID law
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania's long-sidelined voter identification law is about to go on trial. Civil libertarians who contend that the statute violates voters' rights persuaded a judge to bar enforcement of the photo ID requirement during the 2012 presidential election and this year's May primary. But those were temporary orders; the trial set to begin July 15 in Commonwealth Court will explore the more complicated constitutional questions.
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania's long-sidelined voter identification law is about to go on trial.
Civil libertarians who contend that the statute violates voters' rights persuaded a judge to bar enforcement of the photo ID requirement during the 2012 presidential election and this year's May primary. But those were temporary orders; the trial set to begin July 15 in Commonwealth Court will explore the more complicated constitutional questions.
The dispute still faces a long slog in court. Lawyers in the case expect appeals to follow and the state Supreme Court to be the ultimate decider.
If the Corbett administration prevails, Pennsylvania voters will be required for the first time to show acceptable photo ID in order to cast ballots.
The plaintiffs' lawyers are asking the court to bar enforcement of the law until the case has been fully resolved, most likely after the Nov. 5 judicial and municipal elections.
"No one thinks this will be decided before the November election," said Jennifer Clarke, executive director of the law center.
Republicans have touted the ID law as shield against voter fraud; Democrats deride it as a poorly disguised attempt to discourage minorities, seniors, and other Democratic-leaning voters from going to the polls.
A key issue has been the availability of alternative identification for people who lack a valid driver's license or other types of ID spelled out in the law. The Department of State developed a special photo card available for free to voters with no other options, but the plaintiffs contend tens of thousands of voters, and possibly hundreds of thousands, still lack valid credentials.
"We're talking about a very large number of voters who would not be able to vote," said ACLU lawyer Witold Walczak.
Spokesman Ron Ruman of the Department of State said officials have done all they can to ensure voters can obtain a valid ID. "If [voters] don't have an ID now, it's because they have decided not to get one," he said.
A pretrial conference in is scheduled for Monday.