Back in 2006, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, vetoed a bill that a largely Republican legislature passed that would have required voters to show identification before casting a vote in any election. Fast forward to 2011 and the Republicans are asserting their presence to bring photo ID verification to places of polling everywhere, reports he Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This time around, Republicans control the state House, Senate, and governorship. A bill that would require voters to show photo ID before having their say may speed through into law. Here is a look at some of the questions:
Why require photo ID to vote?
The main reason behind a photo ID requirement has to do with eliminating voter fraud, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. While the exact number of instances of voter fraud in Pennsylvania is somewhat unclear, in 2008 the GOP claimed that a community group, ACORN, had falsely registered voters to swing support in favor of soon-to-be-President Barack Obama. ACORN would soon after have a few problems of its own.
Would the be any exceptions?
While Pennsylvania Democrats attempted to place a number of exceptions to the photo ID rule via amendments to the bill, Republicans managed to shoot them all down. However, the bill includes exceptions for anyone with religious beliefs against being photographed and residents in care facilities that serve as their place of polling.
Will the state senate pass the bill?
State senators have said they will review the bill before acting on it. Since the legislation passed along party lines in the House, the Senate is likely to pass the bill along similar lines. By extension, Corbett, who is Republican, is likely to put his signature to the document.
Is the bill constitutional?
While opinions are somewhat split, the constitutionality of the law was challenged by state Democrats several times. The main sticking point is that photo IDs generally need to be purchased, which could come into play in the inevitable legal challenge to the legislation. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, other states are also grappling with the same problem. However, supporters are quick to point out that the law simply guarantees the constitutional right of one person and one vote.
Isn't it going to cost money to enforce the law?
In short, enforcement of any legislation costs money. As for how much, no one really has that answer, but Democrats claim the total could be millions of dollars a year, reports the Associated Press.
Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional and long-time Pennsylvania resident. These experiences give him a first-hand look at developing situations in the state and everything included in the travel industry from technology to trends.
