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By Sharon Ward, Third and State
Now that Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson has given the green light to Pennsylvania’s strictest in-the-nation Voter ID Law, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians will have to make their way to their local PennDOT office to get a photo ID. We can tell you, it won’t be easy.
This summer, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center recruited volunteers to visit PennDOT offices across the Commonwealth and tell us about their experiences trying to obtain free photo ID under the new law. The results of that survey are in our new report, Pennsylvania’s Identity Crisis: Rushed Implementation of Voter ID Law Puts Voting Rights at Risk.
Volunteers visited 43 PennDOT centers in 27 counties across the commonwealth, representing three-quarters of the state’s population. They completed a survey that looked at very simple things: whether there was signage, if forms were available, if there was information that the IDs could be available for free, if volunteers got accurate information. We were surprised just how difficult it was for our volunteers to get the right information and the right forms — and they knew exactly what to ask for.
The report finds that voters are likely to be frustrated in their attempts to secure a free ID from PennDOT. Some volunteers found the offices weren’t open the first time they visited and they had to return another time. There was no signage and limited information in half the sites, and the forms needed to secure a free ID were not available most of the time. In almost half the cases, voters received information that proved to be incomplete or inaccurate from staff at the centers. Problems were as likely to occur in Franklin and Luzerne counties as in Philadelphia or Allegheny County.
Providing a free ID to anyone who needs it is one of the key constitutional tests of the validity of a state’s voter ID law, and we found Pennsylvania is not making the grade. Most volunteers were not told they could have an ID for free, and in 30% of the visits, they were told incorrectly they had to pay.
We report on a man who took 16 people from his church to the PennDOT at 8th and Arch Street in Philadelphia, where they were told incorrectly they had to pay for a photo ID. Twelve of the 16 didn’t have the money with them and left empty-handed.
The Department of State is rolling out a new Commonwealth ID next week, which may end up creating more problems than solutions.
The bottom line is that the Commonwealth isn’t ready to get an ID to everyone who needs it for the November election, and unless we put on the brakes, people will be disenfranchised. They sure ain’t making it easy.
8 Comments
What can be done? How long will it take to right the wrong?
I’m sure that making certain DOT employees know the rules would have just encouraged them to enfranchise American citizens. It’s a feature, not a bug.
I don’t believe that even if the process worked exactly as it is supposed to, with all correct info, all forms, educated employees, etc, etc….. There is still not enough time with the limited number of DOT offices and limited days and hours of operation for them to physically be able to process the number of people that need ID before the election.
From the perspective of the 1%, seems like everything is going exactly according to plan. It’s very clear that the PTB wish to disenfranchise as many citizens as possible. There’s no other way to look at it.
Thanks v. much for this information. I hope it gets broader “publicity,” not that I think it will help. Most citizens don’t really give a stuff anymore, sad to say.
Rush Limbaugh and others on the right have made very clear at what they want and how they intend to get it. They don’t want the poor, old and young or certain minorities voting anymore and they intend to fig. out as many ways as necessary to get that result. The D’s a usual are hapless, clueless and helpless. Why Obama waited to bring the Justice Dept. into this so late is anybodies guess? It’s typical of how spineless he’s been when confronting these people. It almost makes me wonder if he doesn’t at some level even agree with them. In any event it just might cost him the election.
Excellent report, I hope it makes a difference. Thank you so much for this good work! And especially, thanks to all the volunteers.
“creating more problems than solutions.”
As is the intention.
Despite years of semi-neglect Philadelphia still has the best transportation system in the US, and thus the city with the least drivers licenses. Horse and Buggy roads built before 1776, can’t be bulldozed over. Republicans and rural Democrats don’t want state money spend on urban transit. No SEPTA funding would be all day gridlock downtown,
http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/1234560-there-any-other-states-like-pa.html
The state force a cusino on Philly which drains public services since more than any other casino only poor people gamble there.
To a certain extent this could end up being an opportunity if the poor of Philly would get involved,
http://www.phillyimc.org/en/dont-let-world-pass-you-register-vote-and-get-your-id
http://my.firedoglake.com/richardkanepa/2012/08/13/from-homeless-child-to-community-leader-now-vice-presidential-candidate-better-more-accurate-story-than-chopping-down-the-cherry-tree/
A “tough black mayor is fining people for feeding the homeless, and attacking city worker jobs making many not want to be involved with him in trying to get out the vote.