County Executive Takes Advantage of Massive Loophole in the PA. Voter ID Law

[JPZenger]

http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2012/09/rich-fitzgerald-figures-out-how-to-beat-the-voterid-game/

[riverbendviewgal]

1. This is AWESOME

Let's hope he is not blocked by those nasty Republican bureaucrats.

[Scuba]

2. Smart man. Thank you Rich Fitzgerald!!

[blue neen]

3. Good!

for Fitzgerald!

[Curmudgeoness]

4. This is brilliant.

I love when someone gets creative to foil the cheaters.

I was at an informational meeting with our county election chief, and he said that he is not as much concerned about the people like us who were there and know about this law. His real concern is for the people who do not know anything about needing a photo ID and will be showing up at the polls....and sadly he thinks there will be a lot of them. Let's hope he is wrong.

[JPZenger]

5. No.of people getting ID is much lower than was expected

The Corbettites had told the courts that there would be a flood of people showing up to get photo IDs in a short period of time. The data shows that this is NOT happening - mainly because most people without ID don't even know about the law.

[Pat Riot]

7. Also because the DMV is the DMV

I was at the demonstration/rally across from the DMV in downtown Pittsburgh where Fitzgerald was one of the speakers. There was a tent where people with problems and questions could get help and/or have their stories documented. There were MANY people with various troubles.

One story is a friend of mine, born in CO, moved here from IN, can not get his birth certificate or social security card, but did have two proofs of residency. He was told that his girlfriend who lives with him could accompany and vouch for him and he should get his free voter-only ID. They took a ticket and were told an estimated 18 minute wait. Over an hour later they came out empty handed. He had registered about a month ago but it was not on the DMV's data base.

An 80 year old woman spoke. She said when she was born in 1932, 'they didn't keep good records" and she never had a birth certificate.

I've been working on this for months and the requirements are still unclear. My understanding from several sources is that you need four things to get photo ID if you have none. Social security card, birth certificate with the raised seal, and two proofs of residence such as utility bills or lease or mortgage agreement. One of the other volunteers started arguing with me about the social security card.

There are only 2 places that give the ID in Allegheny County, one downtown and one in Penn Hills shopping center. That's to serve over 300,000 people in the city of Pittsburgh and over 2 million in the greater metro area. Sure, maybe only 9-10% have voter ID issues but there are all the other reasons people have to visit the DMV to deal with also. It's only open 8:30am to 4:15pm Monday through Friday. And think of the rural areas, like someone here mentioned his nearest office was miles away and only open 2 days a week, but only took photos one of those days. Bullshit this isn't voter suppression! I think I could be OK with it if they deferred it until the next election, at least.

Then there's another one of my biggest worries: that even if we win after all this, they'll steal it anyway via paperless voting machines. But first things first.

[Ms. Toad]

12. One other thing you may need -

which is buried on the application page. If your current name is not the same as the one on your Social Security Card and/or your birth certificate, you have to bring your marriage license, divorce decree, or court order for the name change to get the ID.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. It is possible that it is because people don't know yet.

I was told at a talk by our county election official that the state is sending out a postcard notice to every registered voter in the state to notify them ahead of time----although if they don't get that done soon, it really will be too late for them to do anything about it. I hope that this is done and helps.

Another reason there has not been a flood is that they added photo IDs make by nursing homes and school IDs are adding expiration dates to comply with the law.....and this would mean that fewer people than originally thought would have to go through DMV. Or let's hope so.

[PRETZEL]

6. kudo's to Montgomery County also

they're also on board with this,

http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2012/09/montgomery-county-looking-at-richid-workaround-to-voterid/

[MadrasT]

8. Outstanding.

This statement is a gem:

State Department spokesman Ron Ruman described the move as legal, but inappropriate.

No, the damn LAW is what's "inappropriate".

[JPZenger]

10. Northampton County wants to issue ID through its nursing home, also

[MadrasT]

11. Heh.

[drm604]

13. What am I missing here?

Does this really make it all that much easier? They still require the same documentation, right? They still have to go somewhere and spend time doing paperwork right?

What problem does this solve?

[Pat Riot]

14. More places accessible and more hours open than DMV

Yes, it does require the same documentation, and one does have to be registered first. But since the targeted demographic consists mostly of the elderly, poor, and students, community college and assisted living homes do help those. the red T in the more rural parts of the state, not so much.

[Freedomofspeech]

15. Gotta love this!!!

It's been rough living in PA with Corebutt as governor.