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| Controversial Pennsylvania voter ID photo requirement halted by judge | Controversial Pennsylvania voter ID photo requirement halted by judge |
| (8 days later) | |
| A judge in Pennsylvania has put on hold a key provision of the state's contested voter ID law that required all voters to show an authorised photocard before they could cast their ballot in November's presidential election. | A judge in Pennsylvania has put on hold a key provision of the state's contested voter ID law that required all voters to show an authorised photocard before they could cast their ballot in November's presidential election. |
| Judge Robert Simpson of the Pennsylvania commonwealth court allowed most of the state's new voter ID law – one of the toughest in the country – to stand. But he put on hold a provision that would have required anyone unable to produce photo ID to file a preliminary vote and then validate their ballot within six days of the vote by producing the card. | Judge Robert Simpson of the Pennsylvania commonwealth court allowed most of the state's new voter ID law – one of the toughest in the country – to stand. But he put on hold a provision that would have required anyone unable to produce photo ID to file a preliminary vote and then validate their ballot within six days of the vote by producing the card. |
| The judge's preliminary injunction on the photo card requirement will last only for the 2012 presidential election. Simpson said he had decided to impose it because "I am not still convinced that there will be no voter disenfranchisement arising out of the commonwealth's implementation of a voter identification requirement for purposes of the upcoming election". | The judge's preliminary injunction on the photo card requirement will last only for the 2012 presidential election. Simpson said he had decided to impose it because "I am not still convinced that there will be no voter disenfranchisement arising out of the commonwealth's implementation of a voter identification requirement for purposes of the upcoming election". |
| The ruling is subject to a possible appeal by the state to the Pennsylvania supreme court. | The ruling is subject to a possible appeal by the state to the Pennsylvania supreme court. |
| Advocates for voting rights hailed the judgement as a victory for their cause. Wendy Weiser, an expert on the subject at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU school of law, said the ruling would help to keep US elections free, fair and accessible to all. "Implementing a sweeping new voter ID law so close to an election would prevent eligible citizens from voting and having their say in our democracy. We are pleased the court refused to allow politicians to manipulate the system for their own benefit by rushing through new voting requirements that would keep out legitimate voters." | Advocates for voting rights hailed the judgement as a victory for their cause. Wendy Weiser, an expert on the subject at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU school of law, said the ruling would help to keep US elections free, fair and accessible to all. "Implementing a sweeping new voter ID law so close to an election would prevent eligible citizens from voting and having their say in our democracy. We are pleased the court refused to allow politicians to manipulate the system for their own benefit by rushing through new voting requirements that would keep out legitimate voters." |
| The Pennsylvania voter ID law was one of the most egregious examples of a spate of hardline legislation that has swept the country. Since January 2011, 19 states have passed a total of 24 laws that erect new hurdles to voting, the most common of which is a requirement to show photo ID cards. | The Pennsylvania voter ID law was one of the most egregious examples of a spate of hardline legislation that has swept the country. Since January 2011, 19 states have passed a total of 24 laws that erect new hurdles to voting, the most common of which is a requirement to show photo ID cards. |
| Proponents of the laws have insisted they are necessary to combat fraudulent ballots. But in practice, proven examples of fraud at the ballot box are fleetingly rare, and civil rights groups such as the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union have argued the measures disenfranchise vulnerable communities such as ethnic minorities, older people, disabled people and the young. | Proponents of the laws have insisted they are necessary to combat fraudulent ballots. But in practice, proven examples of fraud at the ballot box are fleetingly rare, and civil rights groups such as the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union have argued the measures disenfranchise vulnerable communities such as ethnic minorities, older people, disabled people and the young. |
| The Pennsylvania legislation caused extra consternation earlier this year when Mike Turzai, leader of the Republicans in the Pennsylvania assembly, said at a rally of party members: "Voter ID, which is going to allow governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania. Done." | The Pennsylvania legislation caused extra consternation earlier this year when Mike Turzai, leader of the Republicans in the Pennsylvania assembly, said at a rally of party members: "Voter ID, which is going to allow governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania. Done." |
| The law also caused alarm after Pennsylvania election officials released figures that suggested that some 758,000 registered voters did not have valid photo cards – suggesting up to 9% of the electorate could be disenfranchised. In his deliberations, Simpson rejected the 9% figure as inflated, but he also found that the state's claim that just 1% of voters were without valid identification was an underestimate. | The law also caused alarm after Pennsylvania election officials released figures that suggested that some 758,000 registered voters did not have valid photo cards – suggesting up to 9% of the electorate could be disenfranchised. In his deliberations, Simpson rejected the 9% figure as inflated, but he also found that the state's claim that just 1% of voters were without valid identification was an underestimate. |
| The battle over Pennsylvania's voter ID law has been so fierce in part because of the state's rich crop of electoral college votes – it holds 20 of the 270 votes needed to win the presidency. In 2008, Obama won the state with 54% of the vote to John McCain's 44%. | The battle over Pennsylvania's voter ID law has been so fierce in part because of the state's rich crop of electoral college votes – it holds 20 of the 270 votes needed to win the presidency. In 2008, Obama won the state with 54% of the vote to John McCain's 44%. |
| This year most polls are putting Obama again comfortably in the lead in Pennsylvania. The Real Clear Politics tracker poll has the president eight points head on 50% to Mitt Romney's 42%. | This year most polls are putting Obama again comfortably in the lead in Pennsylvania. The Real Clear Politics tracker poll has the president eight points head on 50% to Mitt Romney's 42%. |
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