More misinformation on Voter ID
PECO tells 1.3 million customers that they'll need a photo ID to vote on Nov. 6. They won't.
More misinformation on Voter ID
BOB WARNER
Fresh off the story today on the city mailing inaccurate information on voter ID to 34,000 city workers, Inquirer readers alerted us to a similar, but far more significant problem – PECO sending bad Voter ID information to 1.3 million customers in seven Pennsylvania counties.
Like the city’s mailing, PECO’s “energy@HOME” newsletter advises voters that they’ll have to present a valid photo ID before they’ll be allowed to vote in the general election Nov. 6. In fact, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert E. Simpson Jr. suspended the photo ID requirement in a ruling on October 2 – right around the time that PECO’s newsletter began arriving in customer mailboxes, stuffed into their latest bills. On Election Day, Pennsylvania voters will be asked to show photo ID, but they’ll be allowed to vote whether they have it or not.
Cathy Engel Menendez, a PECO spokeswoman, said the newsletter wording was finalized in August and PECO began printing them around Sept. 12 -- a week before the state Supreme Court sent the case back to Simpson and told him he should tolerate no voter disenfranchisement.
“We were trying to do a service for our customers in Pennsylvania, to get the word out,” said another spokesman, Ben Armstrong. "Because of the press time of this particular publication, unfortunately the information in there is not entirely correct.” Customers who contact the company about the issue are being advised to consult the Department of State’s website, www.votespa.com, or call the state at 1-877-868-3772. The problem is that people who read the inaccurate info from PECO will have no reason to call the company unless they already know the newsletter is wrong.
Armstrong said PECO intends to continue sending out the inaccurate newsletter throughout its October billing cycle, which runs through October 28. It’s not possible for its printer to schedule a corrected run, he said, and the newsletter contains information on other programs “that needs to get” to customers. The other items this month include information on the utility’s home energy audits, how to make donations to its Matching Energy Assistance Fund, Fire Safety Month, and a cutout for customers to get discounts at the Please Touch Museum.
PECO’s next billing cycle begins October 29, a week before the election, but the company has no plans to mention Voter ID in its next newsletter, Armstrong said.
A corporate monopoly rigging the election for the rethugs - what a shock.
Just like the state repuke government, PECO is doing everything it can, even in violation of the law, to muddy the waters and prevent likely Democratic voters from going to the polls.
Notice that they are deliberately lying to the public, refuse to correct the lie now, refuse to correct the lie before the election, and do not even help people who call PECO to get the truth.
How republican of PECO.— JeffJenk- If someone calls the utility company for information on voter ID I think they have much bigger issues to deal with then voting. — barlowjames1
- So do you really think people will read a newsletter in a PECO bill, but not a newspaper or watch a TV newscast? Democrats = party of the misinformed and party of whiners.— ObamaSolyndra
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LOL. This is so pathetic, it's laughable. A collective decision was made during the time the case was pending in the courts to do a public notice. Since making the mistake, they won't make a decision to correct the matter. Well, this is my public notice to PECO, I'll be at the next P.U.C. hearing in full opposition to your proposals....and I won't be alone.
wasn't the voter id law passed in march...? what's that... 8 months to get a proper id ? the real misinformation is the garbage that has been written about over & over again the past 6 months regarding this issue. instead of taking the bus to the local muni office to pick up an id these "poor, lost souls who were being suppressed" decided to take shuttles (most likely paid for by tax payers) to harrisburg to protest the law that was past in late winter. If you do not have an id and can somehow not manage get one in a 8month window there is probably a reason why. i call it LAZINESS... the new liberal "disability"— FBO4ever- PECO the people who continue to oppress the taxpayers by raising rates every year .. Of course the are driven by republican heads along with the republican head himself mayor nutter— noncents
- Please read the first sentence again. The city sent the notice recently. The judge suspended the photo ID requirement in a ruling on October 2 – right around the time that PECO’s newsletter began arriving in customer mailboxes, stuffed into their latest bills. Not the same thing. PECO was doing a public service. The city sent the notice weeks after the judge ruled. No!!! No !!! Bush didn't do it------ the Dumbocrats did it to themselves.— jerryk2b
- One hand not knowing what the other is doing. How typical. Of couse the city made the error. Are we surprised?— marcie
- who cares? what are you afraid people just show up ID's in hand? what's this stupid story about anyway?— Speak-truth-2-power
- speak truth to power: voter suppression. that's what it's all about.— Ryan
- Republicans are denying senior citizens the right to vote! Wake up everyone and punish these criminals. Not one Republican should be elected or re-elected to office throughout Pennsylvania. Republicans are the Devil!— BigDipper
