AP reports: “A judge postponed Pennsylvania’s controversial voter identification requirement on Tuesday, ordering the state not to enforce it in this year’s presidential election but allowing it to go into full effect next year.”
WENDY WEISER, Erik Opsal [email]
Weiser is democracy program director of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. She said today: “Today’s decision is a clear victory for Pennsylvania voters and the cause of voting rights across the country. As the Commonwealth Court ruled, implementing a sweeping new voter ID law so close to an election would prevent eligible citizens from voting and having their say in our democracy. We are pleased the Court refused to allow politicians to manipulate the system for their own benefit by rushing through new voting requirements that would keep out legitimate voters. Now, we must ensure voters are informed of their rights and poll workers are trained properly so no voter is turned away because they don’t have ID. As the leading democracy in the world, our voting system should be free, fair, and accessible to all Americans. Today’s ruling will help ensure it fulfills that promise.”