Pennsylvania District Court Judge Refuses To Block New Voter ID Law
Pennsylvania District Judge Robert Simpson yesterday denied a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the left which sought to block Pennsylvania's new voter ID law from taking effect.
The interests of election integrity won a victory when District Court Judge Simpson issued a well considered, well written ruling which denied a preliminary injunction which sought to stop Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law from going into effect.
In March 2012 Pennsylvania passed the law which requires citizens voting in person on Election Day to present valid photo identification in order to vote. Identification which is valid and acceptable include photo IDs issued by the federal or state government, accredited public or private schools, and care facilities. Citizens who do not present an approved form of ID on Election Day will still be allowed to cast a provisional ballot provided they deliver proof of identification within six days after the election.
The law imposes a similar ID requirement for those who cast absentee ballots.
The Plaintiffs claimed in their lawsuit that too many citizens will be disenfranchised if they are required to present a valid photo ID. It begs the question: are there that many citizens without some form of identification? If the plaintiffs in this case are to be believed, there are a vast number of Americans who:
• cannot work, because identification is required to get a job;
• cannot drive a car, truck or motorcycle, because identification is required to drive;
• cannot fly, because identification is required in airports;
• cannot board a ship, because identification is required at the dock;
• cannot pay for goods and services with checks, because identification is required with those;
• cannot pay for goods and services with credit cards, because identification is required with those;
• cannot cash a check; because banks require valid identification;
• cannot go to school, because schools require (and issue) identification; and,
• cannot do any number of other things in society.
The plaintiffs in this case cannot do any of these things, and yet, for some inexplicable reason remain deeply committed to voting, but can't, solely because they don't have the $20 it would take to procure an ID. But, they're in luck. The Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation will issue free identification cards. Even those who cannot afford the cost of the supporting documentation which is required to get an approved ID, like a birth certificate, are still in luck because their votes will count if they swear that they cannot afford the cost.
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