ABC27 WHTM Groups rally against voter ID bill

Groups rally against voter ID bill

Several people gathered Wednesday for a rally against proposed legislation that would require Pennsylvania voters to show a valid photo identification when they go to the polls.

Wendy Bookler was among those at the rally and delivered a message for her mother, who has voted in every election since the 1940's and feels her right is being threatened.

"She does not have a photo ID," Bookler said. "She gave up her drivers license, fortunately, for all of us a number of years ago. She doesn't have a passport anymore."

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) introduced the bill to stop voter fraud such as impersonation at the polls, double-voting and voting by illegal aliens. Current law requires photo ID only when someone votes in an election district for the first time.

"Just like when you sign up for a library card, drive a vehicle on the road or hunt down a white-tailed deer, you have to have an ID that shows you are who you say you are," Metcalfe said.

Opponents say there is no evidence of significant voter fraud. They claim the photo ID requirement would lower turnout rates among low-income residents, the elderly and minorities.

"We should be encouraging people to vote, not discouraging people to vote. It's un-American," said Tim Stevens, Chairman of The Black Political Empowerment Project, who sees the Republican-pushed bill as an attempt to disenfranchise mostly Democratic voters.

Karen Buck, Executive Director of the SeniorLAW Center, said 18 percent of seniors don't have proper photo ID and won't be able to vote.

"It's more likely that one will be struck by lightning than that someone goes to polls to impersonate you," Buck said.

abc27 News found different numbers in an informal poll at the Rutherford Senior Center in Harrisburg. When a group of 12 was asked if they had a valid photo ID, all hands went up.

"It's no problem," George Eckard said. "You should carry one with you all the time."

But Linda Fosselman disagrees. "You can't tell somebody they can't vote if they don't have a photo id because that is a right of very citizen of the United States of America," she said.

Under the bill, the state would provide ID's to people who don't have them. That could cost a couple million dollars, which critics call a waste of money.

The measure has passed the state House and is expected to pass the Senate and become law before next April's primary.