About 20 people gathered for a rally against the state House bill that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls.
Representing older voters, black voters, and voters with disabilities, the speakers said the measure would put an unnecessary barrier on people who are unlikely to have state-issued photo I.D.
The bill’s sponsor, Butler County Republican Representative Daryl Metcalfe, stood a few paces away from the press conference, watching and taking interviews. He said the people who organized the conference were “aiding and abetting” voter fraud by challenging his legislation. He referred to 2008 instances of voter registration fraud in Philadelphia.
Metcalfe’s bill requires that people show state-issued photo I.D. before they vote – but not before they register to vote. Karen Buck, who runs the SeniorLAW Center in Philadelphia, said one has nothing to do with the other.
“Voter registration and voter impersonation at the polls: the fraud is very different and distinct,” said Buck. “And the only type of voter fraud that this unnecessary legislation would prevent is someone going to the polls and pretending they are you.”
Supporters of voter I.D., including the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Carol Aichele, argue that photo I.D. is required for so many things these days, it’s only common sense to require it at the ballot box.
“You get a library card, you show photo ID,” said Metcalfe. “You go get your new eye glasses, like I did the other day, you show photo ID. You drive your car, you show photo ID.”
He continued, “You go out into the woods to harvest a deer during whitetail season, you have to have a photo ID to show that you are who you say you are when the game commission officer challenges you for that tag that’s on your back.”
Tim Stevens was among the unconvinced. He spoke on behalf of the Black Political Empowerment Project. He said regardless of what other services require, the state shouldn’t be finding obstacles to prevent its residents from voting.
“Voting is a right. A right for every U.S. citizen. This is not just a prerogative type of an issue. This is a right,” said Stevens. “And the United State of America, including Pennsylvania, should be finding ways to encourage people to vote.”
It would cost the state $4.3 million to issue photo I.D. for registered voters who don’t already have it. About 82 percent of Pennsylvania adults are registered to vote.
Metcalfe said whatever the price tag is, it’s worth it.
“There’s an associated cost with good government. Taxpayers support paying for their government. They don’t support paying for inefficiency and waste and fraud in their government, which is what we’re trying to combat.”
