Politics & Government

Voter ID Case Goes to PA Supreme Court Thursday

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 time-frame 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.

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Commonwealth Court  in August.

Supporters say the law will prevent voter fraud and imposes the same photo ID standard required in many common circumstances.

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Challengers say the law is designed to disenfranchise poor and elderly voters who often support Democratic candidates. They cite as evidence state Rep. Mike Turzai's declaration that the law will allow Mitt Romney to win Pennsylvania.

A key question in the Supreme Court case will be how strictly courts should scrutinize voting rules, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report.

Also Thursday, to Allegheny County election officials again. There are more than 15,000 signatures statewide and more than 4,000 from Allegheny County.

The group, led by Steven Singer, who started a SignOn.org petition, will meet at the Allegheny County Court House along Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. Shortly after, they'll march a block down to the election offices and deliver the petitions.

The group will hold a press conference, joined by Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, community members and politicians. To attend, RSVP by clicking here.

Voters can now at PennDOT driver's license centers so they can comply with the law. As of Friday, PennDOT had issued 7,226 IDs for voting purposes. 

A few weeks ago, a federal three-judge panel ruled that a similar voter-ID law in Texas discriminates against poor and minority voters. In a "friend of the court" brief filed against the Pennsylvania law, a group of law professors argued that federal courts have struck down less stringent laws in three other states, Missouri, Georgia and Wisconsin, according to this editorial.


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