PennDOT, PA Make Getting ID to Vote Easier
Proof of residency will no longer be required for the new ID process.
Getting identification in order to vote, just got even easier.
The Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation and State this week announced voters can choose to receive either secure PennDOT IDs, or Department of State voting-only ID cards, when visiting a PennDOT driver license center to obtain photo ID to vote under the state's new voter ID law.
The agencies also announced that, in order to get the DOS voter ID card, an individual need only give his name, date of birth, social security number, and address; however, proof of residence is not required.
PennDOT will then, while the individual is at the driver license center, confirm with the Department of State that the applicant is a registered voter. Upon confirmation, the applicant will get a DOS voter ID card.
If an applicant's voter registration or information cannot be confirmed while he is at PennDOT, that applicant will not have to return to PennDOT to get the other ID card once the voter registration or information is confirmed. The Department of State will mail the voter ID card to the applicant.
"We believe these updates to our process will meet the Supreme Court standard that voter ID cards be liberally accessible," Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele said.
Aichele said the two state agencies agreed to modify the process for all voters to be able to receive the DOS voter ID card following the state Supreme Court's remanding the lawsuit challenging the law to Commonwealth Court.
The Supreme Court's decision questioned whether the agencies' attempt to qualify applicants for a secure PennDOT ID before offering the DOS voter card was consistent with the General Assembly's intent to provide liberal access to an acceptable voter ID card.
"It's important to note that anyone who qualifies for a secure PennDOT ID, which unlike the DOS voting-only ID card, is good for general identification purposes, may still get a PennDOT ID free of charge with the proper documentation," said PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch.
Information on the voter ID law is available at www.votesPA.com, or by calling 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).
Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Do you think this move will help those wanting an ID to vote? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Voter
8:28 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
What is this..the 15th time the State Dept has changed how people will get their Voter IDs? If you pass a bill into law, common sense would tell you to make sure everything was in place. But no, Carol and Shannon really messed this one up. I hope the judge does the injunction for this election. If they really believe we must stop a crime BEFORE it's committed, then they need to give everyone at PennDot etc more time to comply. And since our state is in the business of passing laws BEFORE crimes occur...they should find out what color car people drive when they abduct a child - then arrest everyone who owns such color car. Hey...PA could be on to something here.
And where are the legislators who voted for this horrendous law? Not a word from one of them....guess they are afraid of their boss Corbett.
I love fox news
9:22 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Only IDIOTS don't have ID's and people who resist and make a big deal about getting them are also IDIOTS.
Dave Hoag
12:48 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
A lot of elderly people have no reason for IDs. They don't drive nor fly. Traveling an hour or two to a crowded DMV office is very difficult for them.
Perhaps you might want to educate yourself about an issue next time before you put your foot in your mouth and take a bit of Abraham Lincoln's advice -- "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt."
Adrian Seltzer
12:48 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
So Mad Money's Jim Cramer's dad is an idiot, he didn't have ID to vote. Just to illustrate and educate, the Supreme Court Justices' judicial photo id would allow them to get that check, cash it, go on a plane, buy cold medicine and all the myriad of examples that have been brought up, EXCEPT, it wouldn't be good for voting. Same for veterans, like Jim's dad. People have IDs, just not all have IDs good for voting. It might be good for you to get some actually facts and not just the rhetoric. The more you know...
David Curran
2:33 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
To Fox News, dies this gentlemen sound like an idiot to you?
http://mobile.philly.com/columnists/?wss=/philly/columnists/annette_john-hall/&id=171079821
Ted Goldsborough
6:45 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I guess you'd call me an IDIOT. My driver's license, which I've had since 1955, uses my initials because I have a long last name. My voter's registration card uses my full first and middle names. Thus they don't match. I was flagged by the state. Who's the IDIOT?
Adrian Seltzer
9:22 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
It's really nice that it just got easier, but PennDOT staff is so poorly trained that it is irrelevant. Even the people who have been following this intensely, the Committee of 70 and the Voter ID Coalition are confused by all the changes. How is the average person able to keep up with it, because they would have to because PennDOT workers don't know. This whole thing is a fiasco. . Please sign & share my petition to postpone the Voter ID law in PA Tell your story when you sign my petition. Share it with everyone you know. The more signatures the greater the impact. I am taking this to Harrisburg next week. We have almost 5200 signers now. http://signon.org/sign/postpone-pa-voter-id
I love fox news
12:48 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
If people took as much interest to resolve real serious government problems i.e. the debit, heavy handed regulation and wasteful spending instead of softball issue like this our country would be in much better shape. Someone stole my presidential yard sign last night. Maybe we should have an investigation of voter fraud.
Proud to be an American
11:00 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I love fox news: I'm with you.
David Curran: Regarding your article. "Anthony DeCarlo of Berwyn , a recently retired CEO, got the runaround over minor discrepancies in his name on his voter-registration card, passport, and driver's license." Why did this man need a 'voter ID' when he has a passport and a drivers license AND what is a 'minor discrepancy.'
As previously been stated. ID is needed on a daily basis for almost everything you do or need. Only a person with something to hide or who is fraudulent would have a problem.
My 76 year old Mother in law, never drove, was a stay at home Mom her whole life, now a widow, has a 'Non drivers ID,' Again, not sure what the big deal is,except if you're looking to cheat the system.
mary kushner
12:48 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Why would you not want voter id? Because you want to cheat? There is no other reason. You need photo id to get into democratic convention but then they want to ban it when you vote. I have to pull out my driver's license multiple times throughout the day. Why don't liberals help people obtain id's instead of having them sign petitions. It seems that would be the logical thing to do.p
Hannah Goldestein
2:33 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Who says liberals aren't helping seniors get IDs? Haven't you read all the news about carpools to DMV offices? About voter outreach? The Democrats have been working for months on voter awareness about this issue.
Just because you don't know about something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Cliffy44
11:00 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Mary Kushner said it the best way that I've seen, recently.
Cheaters and dead registered voters don't want Voter ID, because they know that their trained orangutan who's currently trespassing in the white house has about as much chance of being LEGITIMATELY re-elected (that means with integrity) as Joy Behar has of winning the Woman of the Year 2012 Award.
DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE BETTER OFF NOW, THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?
HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR A GALLON OF GASOLINE, 4 YEARS AGO?
Morgan King
6:45 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Why would I not want voter ID? Because not every Pennsylvanian with the right to vote will have one by November 6, for a multitude of reasons - in the simplest terms, more legitimate votes than in-person fraudulent votes will be blocked by the enforcement of this law.
Adrian Seltzer
6:45 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Hi Mary, Let's see, last Tuesday I ran a Voter ID clinic for about 25 people, last Thursday about 80 people today for about another 80 people, been to 5 senior centers, Have an email where people can ask questions about voter ID, voter ID help@ gmail.com And the hardest job of all - trying to educate people like you who do not understand the law and do not know that it doesn't stop fraud. That's right, the PA law does NOT stop fraud, just voting. Oh, and I have my petition. Oh and I am one of the lazy 47%. What do you do?
Catherine
12:25 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Ms Kushner, I cannot imagine how it's possible you have to show your driver's license "multiple times during the day". What kind of activities are you participating in and places of business are you frequenting that require this? I'm totally serious when I ask this.
Agnes
12:25 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
I've had a voters registration card since I was 18, which my district checks everytime I go to vote. The only time I need to show my driver's license is when I walk into a bar. How many bars are you going to during the day?
I love fox news
2:33 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Dave Hoag
12:48 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
A lot of elderly people have no reason for IDs. They don't drive nor fly. Traveling an hour or two to a crowded DMV office is very difficult for them.
Perhaps you might want to educate yourself about an issue next time before you put your foot in your mouth and take a bit of Abraham Lincoln's advice -- "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt."
Its difficult for me every year for more than 1-2 hours to file and pay my taxes on or before April 15th. That's another price I pay to be a law abiding American. I don't care to hear sniveling remarks about how difficult it is to comply with the law.
David Curran
2:33 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Yo Fox news, read this article and tell me if this Republican is an idiot. You can respond back when you are finished picking the crow feathers out of your tooth. I always liked that line courtesy of Richard H.
http://mobile.philly.com/columnists/?wss=/philly/columnists/annette_john-hall/&id=171079821
I love fox news
6:45 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
The man is still an idiot whether repub. or dem. If you can't read and understand your name difference on your lic. and passport and don't correct it immediately your an idiot. If you eat crow your also an idiot.
Adrian Seltzer
6:45 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
David, of course he is going to say he's an idiot, just like he would say Mad Money's Jim Cramer's dad, a veteran, who didn't have ID to vote is an idiot. Just like he won't believe that the PA voter ID law will NOT stop fraud, just voting. Nice try though
deb kuhn
6:45 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Contrary to what many pro voter ID folks say you don't need a photo ID to get food stamps.
I work at the polls and I expect some people to bring their PA issued voter registration card to the polls and I will get to tell them that the state of PA doesn't recognize their own voter registration card as valid ID (because there's no photo on it)
David Curran
5:51 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
I would expect a long evening Deb; Good Luck
I love fox news
8:50 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
That's right you need a proper ID. Does everybody get it now??? What a bunch of cry baby's over a simple requirement. Get over it !!!!!