Politics & Government

Report: Judge Suspends Decision Over State Voter ID Law

Voters will not have to present photo identification at the polls in November.

By Jessica Sinichak

Voters in Baldwin-Whitehall won't have to worry about presenting photo identification at the polls, at least during the next election.

Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley on Friday ordered a continuance of the suspension of the Pennsylvania voter ID law until he makes a final decision on a legal challenge to the law, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.


Both sides in the case have already agreed that voters will not be required to show photo identification at the polls in the upcoming November election, the newspaper reports.

The photo identification requirement became a law in March 2012. However, voters in the fall election were not made to show their ID at the polls after challenges in the courtrooms prevented the law from taking effect.

Instead, election workers informed voters that they would be required to show ID at the next election.

McGinley on Friday ruled that, while election workers may ask voters for ID, they no longer would have to tell them that photo identification is required at the next election, according to the P-G.

Supporters say that the voter ID law will prevent voter fraud and that it imposes the same photo ID standard required in many common circumstances.

Challengers say that the law is designed to disenfranchise poor and elderly voters who often support Democratic candidates.

McGinley said that the suspension of the law would continue until his court reaches an appealable decision, the P-G reports.

Thoughts on the voter ID law? Tell us in the comments section below.


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