Local Legislators Rail Against Voter ID Bill

A state bill for more stringent identification requirements at the polls that passed the Senate last week, 26-23, is scheduled for more discussion Wednesday in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Rep. Mike Gerber, who represents parts of Lower Merion and Ardmore, announced Tuesday he would oppose the bill.

"This is an outrage, an abomination, and the public needs to pay attention," Gerber said in a statement to media. "On its face, the law may seem simple and harmless, but when considering the actual impact, the disenfranchisement of voters, one can’t help but view this as a Jim Crow-like trampling of the constitutional right to vote."

Rep. Pam DeLissio, who has constituents in Bala Cynwyd, called the state's argument for the law "weak at best" on Twitter.

Sen. Daylin Leach—a Democrat, like Gerber—was among the minority to oppose the bill in the Senate. He later issued a statement to media, reading in part: "The only form of voter fraud the bill would stop is voter impersonation. ... Statistically, you have 100 times greater a chance to be hit by lightning than become a victim of voter impersonation. Quite simply, this bill aims to stop a crime that never occurs."

If the Republican-controlled House approves the bill, it will get Gov. Tom Corbett's signature and go into effect in time for this fall's election, the Inquirer reported.