The requirement was for photo IDs with expiration dates. When the state supreme court decision was pending, during the general election of 2012, some idiot lower court judge (and I say that advisedly, as an attorney myself) ruled that poll workers had to ask each voter for the ID as provided for under the challenged law, but if voters didn't have such an ID they could vote on the machines anyway. We (I'm also a judge of elections) had to therefore advise every single voter when they signed in, that we were required to ask to see ID, explain the convoluted mess in our legislature/court system, and then assure them that they could vote anyway. Idiotic, time consuming and pointless.
The proposed law, since overturned, required a photo ID with an expiration date, like a driver's license. I mean we're talking a goddamned PHOTO. So what if it's expired - is there a rebuttable presumption that someone had plastic surgery to assume another identity?!?!?!
One of our regular voters is a wheelchair bound vet. He does not drive so does not have the state driver's license w/photo and expiration date. So when I explained to him that if the new law was eventually upheld by the state supreme court, he'd need a photo ID, he said, "All I have is this. He handed me his VA medical card, which had his photo on it. OH , but the horrors! It didn't have an expiration date! Of course, it did identify him as a Purple Heart winner.
I had to tell him, "Thank you for your sacrifices. Unfortunately, the Republican majorities in the two chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature do not feel you should be allowed to vote. It may happen that next election, depending on what the state supreme court decides, that you wouldn't be able to vote. You need to find someone with a van that can handle your wheelchair to drive you to one of the state driver's licensing facilities, check to see which days/hours it is open, take time off from their job, and be prepared to sit there and wait with you for several hours while you get an official Pennsylvania state non-driver's photo ID card. (Some of our licensing centers are open 2 days a week.)
Plus you will need to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate to present to the state office. If you are female and no longer use the name on your birth certificate, you will need a certified copy of your marriage license. Of course you have to pay various fees for these certified copies, plus the new id, plus the cost of transportation - i.e., a goddamned POLL TAX!
Obtaining a new ID card
To apply for an ID, first, you should plan a visit to your local DVS.
You will need to provide one primary document and two secondary documents. The fee to obtain an ID in Pennsylvania is $13.50 for both children and adults. (Note: You must be at least 10 years old to obtain a Pennsylvania ID card)
Provide:
Birth certificate
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Social Security card
Mortgage documents
Tax records
Current utility bills
About Fees: Pennsylvania DVSs accept checks or money orders. Cash is not accepted.
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