Man denied free voter ID in Pittsburgh

[freeandequalpa]

13. Here is what the law says

Last edited Sat Aug 18, 2012, 03:56 PM - Edit history (1)

"Notwithstanding the provisions of 75 Pa.C.S. § 1510(b) (relating to issuance and content of driver's license) to the contrary, the Department of Transportation shall issue an identification card described in 75 Pa.C.S. § 1510(b) at no cost to any registered elector who has made application therefor and has included with the completed application a statement signed by the elector declaring under oath or affirmation that the elector does not possess proof of identification as defined in section 102(z.5)(2) and requires proof of identification for voting purposes."

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2012/0/0018..HTM

The voter who posted this story "does not possess proof of identification as defined in section 102(z.5)(2)" -- because his out-of-state drivers' license is not acceptable ID to vote in PA -- and "require[d] proof of identification for voting purposes." So the refusal to issue him a free photo ID card strikes me as a clear violation of the law.

I bet the PennDOT supervisor would argue that this voter is not entitled to the free photo ID card because he CAN get a PA driver's license (in fact, that is what he went to PennDOT to get) and, therefore, does not "require" the free ID to vote, but that reading of the statute would be quite a stretch, IMHO.

As for the card that will be available on August 27 -- that is the new voting-only ID card that the Commonwealth created when it realized it likely would lose the lawsuit if it didn't (in fact, Judge Simpson relied heavily on the Commonwealth's promise to issue this new card in refusing to enjoin the law). The voting-only card is not supposed to replace the free non-drivers' photo ID card. Rather, the voting-only card is supposed to be available only to voters who demonstrate that they have attempted to but cannot obtain a copy of their birth certificate. I will bet you if this voter goes back on August 27 and attempts to get the voting-only card, PennDOT will refuse to give it to him because he cannot demonstrate that he cannot obtain a copy of his birth certificate.