Pennsylvania's Voter ID Law

Posted by Sir Four at 12:31pm Jul 27 '12
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Civil rights groups, including the ACLU and the NAACP, are suing the state of Pennsylvania on behalf of Viviette Applewhite, a 93 year old woman without ID. Applewhite attempted to get a photo ID that would allow her to vote this November, but was unable to due to not having the necessary documentation, such as a birth certificate or driver's license. She will therefore be unable to vote this year.

The state of Pennsylvania is surely mounting a solid defense of their law, though. Right? Well, not really:

In a Pennsylvania court filing, the state says it has never investigated claims of in-person voter fraud and so won't argue that such fraud has occurred in the past. As a result, the state says, it has no evidence that the crime has ever been committed.

The state also says it won't present "any evidence or argument" that in-person voter fraud is likely to occur on Election Day if the voter ID law isn't enacted.

Kinda makes you wonder why this law was necessary. PA House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) gave us a clue when rattling off state Republican accomplishments: "Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it's done. First pro-life legislation – abortion facility regulations – in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."

GOP apologists would later say that Turzai meant PA would naturally elect Romney in the absence of voter fraud. In a blue state. Where there is no evidence of voter fraud.

Right.