ACLU of Pennsylvania Opposes Voter ID Bill

A house bill that would require voters to show government issued photo identification when they go to vote waits for consideration by the state House of Representatives after committee debate on Monday morning.

House Bill 934 is sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry and chair of the State Government Committee.

Pennsylvania voters are only required to show an ID during their first time at a polling site.

Other changes in the amendment from Metcalfe would make the measure effective in January 2012.

According to The Post Gazette, more than a dozen amendments from Democratic lawmakers to expand the types of ID's acceptable were all rejected on Monday.

Andy Hoover, Legislative Director of the ACLU, said he and others oppose the bill because there has been no proof of voter fraud in Pennsylvania and it would cost $11.5 Million in taxpayer money.

"Intended or not this bill would lead to the disenfranchisement of some voters. There is research that indicates that eleven percent of US citizens do not have government issued IDs and we look at who they are and they are disproportionately racial minorities, people over the age of 65 and people who earn less than $35,000 per year," said Hoover.