Voter  ID Bill Emerges in PA Senate: Make it Dead On Arrival

You've heard of "zombie banks."  We now give you "zombie legislation." Resurrected from the dead, a new bill in the PA State Senate seeks - again - to require that all voters provide specified photo ID at the polls before voting. 

Photo ID is a solution in search of a problem.  What will it solve?  Not voter fraud since there's no evidence that there is any.  In fact, we already have a range of sensible safeguards on the books.  Every first-time voter in a Pennsylvania precinct has to show ID.  Thereafter, s/he must be listed in the District Register/poll book in order to vote by regular ballot.  An example of the voter's signature is kept on record and compared to the new one every time the voter signs in on election day.  Just in case anyone has the bright idea to bypass legal requirements by impersonating someone else in a federal election, they'll face five years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, on top of state penalties.  With all of the election reforms we truly need, does this sound like an area of the law that needs attention?   Click this link to contact your state senator and tell them No on Voter Photo ID, Senate Bill 514: 

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senators_alpha.cfm

Turnout was good in November but the U.S. remains the lowest in voter participation of any advanced democracy.  Far better to focus on improving citizen engagement and voter participation rather than limiting it.  And make no mistake: voter ID will limit participation, especially within historically disenfranchised communities such as low-income, racial minorities and the disabled.  Many people simply don't have drivers' licenses, passports or other photo Id.  About 18 percent of Americans over 65 - more than six million citizens - do not have photo ID, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School.  About 25 percent of African-Americans of voting age and at least 15 percent of citizens earning less than $35,000 annually do not have these types of ID.

Want another reason?  If this bill becomes law, prepare to spend additional not-so-quality-time at the polls on election days, as voters fish through their pockets for various documents and officials mull them over.

Senate Bill 514 needs to be permanently laid to rest.  The bill has been listed on tomorrow's agenda for the PA Senate State Government Committee.  Please call or email your State Senator and tell them to oppose 514.  If your senator is Charles McIlhinney (10^th district), committee chair, or one of the other committee members (see the list below), your voice has additional weight . 

Find contact information for your state senator if s/he's not on the committee through this link.  If you're not sure of their name, just insert your zip code at the top right: 

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senators_alpha.cfm

Here are the members of the Senate State Government Committee: