House panel hears plan to require photo ID for voters
Share with others:
HARRISBURG -- Concerns over voter fraud have reignited efforts to strengthen identification requirements for those seeking to cast a ballot in Pennsylvania.
Lawmakers on the House State Government Committee heard debate Monday on two bills, including one from Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, that would require a voter to show government-issued photo ID at the polls. Under Mr. Metcalfe's proposal, the state Department of Transportation would provide a free ID card to those who do not have acceptable identification.
Except for first-time voters, Pennsylvania voters currently are not required to show an ID.
Supporters, citing voter fraud cases involving the community organizing group ACORN, said such changes would help prevent illegal voting.
"I won't say it's easy, but if you want to beat the system, you can," said Michael Bekesha, of Judicial Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based policy group.
Mr. Bekesha said voter fraud has taken the form of false registrations, as well as other instances where someone can vote in multiple districts because an old registration hasn't been removed from a county's voter lists.
But opponents questioned whether the additional requirements on voters are fair to older and low-income residents, who may not have a drivers' license or valid identification.
Karen Buck of the SeniorLAW Center, a group that provides legal protection for older Pennsylvanians, told the panel that mandating photo ID would "unnecessarily limit" how many seniors vote.
While a companion measure would require the issuance of a standard voter registration card that includes a photograph, Ms. Buck said many seniors no longer drive and would have difficulty obtaining a state ID. Those voters would have difficulties providing the documents needed to get a new ID card, she said.
Hans von Spakovsky of The Heritage Foundation, disputed the idea that an identification requirement would suppress turnout. He said turnout in Indiana increased for the 2006 election, after its ID law went into effect.
First Published March 22, 2011 12:00 am
