Essay: "What It Cost Me in Time and Money to Comply with PA.'s Voter ID Law"

[JPZenger]

Last edited Mon Sep 10, 2012, 03:42 PM - Edit history (3)

http://americancity.org/daily/entry/what-i-spent-to-comply-with-pennsylvanias-new-voter-id-law

Written by a person who recently moved to Phila.

Excerpt:

"Thursday:
•2:15pm Leave the office. The PennDOT Driver’s License Center closes at 4:15pm on weekdays, so I have to skip out of work early to get there with enough time. (It’s not open on Sundays, my only free day.) Total cost in work hours lost: about $42.97.
•2:27pm Catch the bus. Fare: $2
•3:02pm Arrive at the PennDOT center at Eighth and Arch streets. Estimated wait time: 24 minutes.
•4:06pm Number called. At the counter I find out that in addition to my birth certificate and social security card,* I need to show two proofs of my current mailing address, which I don’t have. Leave empty-handed.
•4:12pm Catch the bus. Fare: $1.55

*I had to have my parents mail both of these items to Philly, since I move often and prefer to keep them where I know they’re safe. Cost for priority shipping with the U.S. Postal Service: $12.95. (If I didn’t have a birth certificate and had been born in Pennsylvania, it would have cost me $10 for a new one.)

Friday:

• I don’t have work today. If I did, I would once again have to sacrifice three hours worth of wages, or about $42.97.
•1:49pm Catch the bus. Fare: $2
•2:20pm Arrive at PennDOT.
•4:04pm Number called. Told to go to a different counter.
•4:15pm Since this is my first Pennsylvania ID card, I get it for free. If it wasn’t, I’d have to pay a $13.50 fee.
•5:18pm Photo taken. Issued temporary state ID card. The real one should arrive in the mail within a few weeks.
Catch the bus. Fare: $2
Total cost: $65.47

Now, for some statistics: The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 an hour, or about $58 a day. The city of Philadelphia has a 26.7 percent poverty rate — bear in mind that the federal poverty level is $11,170 ($46.56 a day) for a single individual, $23,050 ($96.04 a day) for a family of four — on top of a 7.3 percent unemployment rate, according to the most recent census numbers. For many, obtaining an ID means sacrificing at least a day’s wages, probably more."

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Note - This effort could be even greater in many parts of the state where there is not adequate public transit service. How is someone in rural areas supposed to get to the PennDOT office, particularly if they don't drive? There are many areas of the state that are not even served by cabs (even if you could afford one).

[ejpoeta]

1. thank you for posting this. it is rather eye opening.

I think the republicans know what they are doing. and it is quite clear from their own mouths what there intentions are.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I can't figure out why

they would want two proofs of a current address. When I think about how easy it was for me to get a voter registration by mail without showing anything. And getting a drivers license when I moved here did require anything but surrendering my other state license. So why is this such an ordeal???

[drm604]

3. "Why is this such an ordeal?"

It's designed to be an ordeal in order to suppress voting.

[JPZenger]

4. Many PA. counties do not even have a place to get a PennDOT ID

There are several PA. counties that do not have any PA. Photo ID locations within their borders.

Chief Justice Castille (the swing vote) is not revealing his feelings, but some people think he will vote to delay the law to give people more time to comply.

[drm604]

5. That's the opinion of state Senator Daylin Leach.

He's been at the hearing and posted on FaceBook.
https://www.facebook.com/daylin.leach/posts/10151019438460672

Only a fool guesses a Supreme Court's decision based on questions at oral argument. So, I think the court is leaning towards upholding Voter I'd, but delaying its effective date for 2 years to give it time to ramp up.

If you're in PA, I recommend friending him. His posts are funny and informative.