HARRISBURG -- Bernie Ray made mistakes and he served time for them.

Now, the Philadelphian is turning his life around and wants the same rights as everyone else.

His right to vote, though, is in jeopardy under legislation that passed in the House in June and is now under Senate consideration.

Mr. Ray and other opponents of the bill convened for a news conference at the Capitol last week.

A similar event held in Pittsburgh featured speakers from the Black Political Empowerment Project, League of Independent Voters, One Vision One Life, Duquesne University and Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.

The bill, which is now in the hands of a Senate committee on state government, would prevent released felons from voting until the expiration of the sentence imposed even if they are released from prison early. There is no timetable for when the committee will vote on whether to send the bill to the full Senate.

Currently, felons can vote upon release from prison.

The bill also would require a voters to show photo identification every time they cast ballots.

Those requirements would be reasonable, say bill supporters including state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry.

"When somebody has been prosecuted, judged guilty and sentenced to serve time for a crime ... they should have to serve the full time of the sentence before being allowed to participate in electing who is going to lead us," he said.

The ID requirement, meanwhile, is a simple way to ensure everyone who votes is entitled to cast a ballot, he said.

"We want to make sure our electoral system has integrity," Mr. Metcalfe said.

Opponents, though, say the bill would disenfranchise people whose votes should be counted.

"As an ex-offender who was on probation for a year and a half, [this bill] concerns me because it attempts to disenfranchise people who have made mistakes in their life," Mr. Ray said. "I am a law-abiding taxpayer. I am trying to be a productive member of society and give back to my community. Politicians and legislation determine my future and I want a say in who gets elected."

It is unclear whether the bill would survive a court challenge. In 2000, Commonwealth Court struck down a similar measure that prevented ex-felons from voting for five years after their release.

Support for the latest bill largely has run along party lines, with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats opposing it.

State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, D-Philadelphia, is leading the opposition.

"There are a number of young men, who, unfortunately, made a mistake and would no longer have the right to even consider being a member of society," Mr. Williams said. "The right to vote is fundamental to being a citizen."

The bill also is harmful to people without driver's licenses or passports because they would have to make extra efforts to get state-issued IDs, said Liz Milner, president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.

"Voting is a fundamental right," she said. "Government should be removing barriers, not erecting new ones."