Pennsylvania Voter ID law blocked by Judge

image
Published: 02 Oct, 2012
Updated: 21 Nov, 2022
1 min read

In a ruling today, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson put the Pennsylvania voter ID debate to rest by ruling that voters in Pennslyvania will not have to show a photo ID to vote, at least for now. NBC News reports,

Simpson’s ruling means that the photo ID requirement won’t be in effect for the Nov. 6 election, but it may be in effect for future elections. His decision did not strike down the entire law; in fact he rejected efforts by those challenging to law to stop state officials from educating voters about the voter ID requirement.Simpson also said that those challenging the law have conceded that the part of the law which requires proof of identification for absentee voting does not harm would-be voters and may be implemented.
Todd Wiseman / Texas Tribune

The ruling essentially mandates that a voter's "provisional ballot" cannot be invalidated because that voter refuses to show identification, but election officials still have the right to ask for an ID. It also leaves open the future of voter ID laws in Pennsylvania, postponing the debate to a non-election year.

This news might come as a disappointment to the majority of Pennsylvania registered voters, who favored voter ID laws in order to prevent alleged voter fraud. Among Republican leaders who might be disappointed is Republican House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, who admitted earlier this year that the Pennsylvania voter ID law “is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania."

What's your opinion on the ruling? Is it fair to postpone the voter ID debate until next election?

Latest articles

 Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo
Are Nevadans Being Intentionally Misled to Keep Independent Voters Locked Out of Elections?
Registered unaffiliated voters in Nevada – the state’s largest registered voting bloc – came close to gaining real electoral power in elections with the adoption of semi-open primaries. That is, until Gov. Joe Lombardo decided to keep their voices suppressed....
16 Jun, 2025
-
4 min read
Military uniform with an American flag over it.
Can The Military Remain Apolitical?
Last week, Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles over the objections of state leaders, delivered a highly partisan speech to uniformed troops at Fort Bragg, and held a military parade in Washington, D.C. on his birthday....
16 Jun, 2025
-
1 min read
10 reasons nothing ever gets done on the border
10 Reasons Nothing Ever Gets Done on the Border Crisis
ICE raids, Los Angeles riots, “No King” protests. It’s all people can talk about these days as immigration is front and center in the American social and political zeitgeist. For many voters, this all may seem familiar....
13 Jun, 2025
-
11 min read