State Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) announced Wednesday that he plans to introduce legislation amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to require voters to provide valid identification in order to vote in an election.
If approved, the measure – already approved in the previous session by the House and Senate – would place a proposed amendment on the ballot asking voters if identification should be required at each election.
Laughlin wrote in his co-sponsorship memoranda that “This proposal would help to enhance election integrity and increase voter confidence. It would also add another layer of security to our elections.”
During the height of the “Big Lie” in June 2021, Franklin & Marshall College conducted a poll and found that a large majority of Pennsylvania voters support strengthening the state’s voter ID requirements. According to the poll cited by Laughlin, 74 percent of respondents agree voters should be required to show ID at the polls.
Another F&M poll in May 2022 found that just 26 percent said the one change they would like to see to Pennsylvania’s elections is voter ID. And in August 2020, when posed with the same question, only one percent of respondents said showing ID should be a change made by the legislature.
A total of 35 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls.
The remaining 15 states, including Middle Atlantic states such as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland along with D.C., use other methods to verify the identity of voters. Most frequently, other identifying information provided at the polling place, such as a signature, is checked against information on file.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) says “proponents see increasing requirements for identification as a way to prevent in-person voter impersonation and increase public confidence in the election process. Opponents say there is little fraud of this kind, and the burden on voters unduly restricts the right to vote and imposes unnecessary costs and administrative burdens on elections administrators.”
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10 Responses
National ID should be administered by the Federal Government, and it should be more expansive than just voter registration.
Perhaps insignias or symbols should be affixed to everyone’s clothing…. Administered by the central government?
There is a simple fix for this. Currently, signature images are captured and show in the poll books. Why not just capture photos of voters as well and start attaching them to show in the poll books as well.
This “show an ID nonsense” is just part of the ongoing right wing efforts to push a few “hot button” issues to constantly rile up the base. VOTER ID, BORDER WALL, DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR, BOYS PEEING IN THE GIRLS BATHROOM…. they and others are just BS talking points.
Ninety nine percent of people have ID. Opponents naturally find some kindly old Grandma who doesn’t have a license—it’s a canard. Anyone in a lower income that receives government services, is required to have ID. As a society we show ID all over the place. The fanatical opposition only underscores the suspicions held by the rest of us that dirty business is going on. More Republicans vote at the polls these days than be mail, so it is they who will be producing ID more often than not. ID will significantly speed up lines, especially in jurisdictions with electronic poll books. It’s time to move on, pass ID and cut the crap.
How much Koch Cash Did Laughable take under the table to promote this garbage?
This only reinforces the widely-held perception that Republicans can’t win unless they suppress the vote.
What a schmuck.
And the wide held believe is that dems can’t win without unverified, print them as you need them mail in votes. And election week, no day. So there’s THAT
Why do we need this whenever the poll workers already verify your signature whenever you sign in on the book? Furthermore, who is paying for this? It should be state funded and are they going to pay for Grandma, whom doesn’t drive, to take the public bus round trip to get to PennDOT to have it issued? Will they pay the PennDOT workers for extended hours of operation at the offices to accommodate the millions of Pennsylvania voters whom need this ID? Make it easier, not harder. We are not purchasing booze, cigarettes, marijuana, or firearms. Verifying the signature in the book is good enough, and it has been for decades!
And the wide held believe is that dems can’t win without unverified, print them as you need them mail in votes. And election week, no day. So there’s THAT
How in the world would Democrats get people to vote in the place of other people AND keep their mouth shut?
I would like to see a breakdown of MAGA GOP vs. DEMS in the F&M poll. Otherwise, it loses validity. If such an ID was required, then election offices should be equipped to provide a free ID to every person who registers to vote and does not already possess an ID acceptable for voting.