Evans introducing effort to repeal Pa. voter ID law

Some Pennsylvania lawmakers are challenging a new law — a law so new it hasn’t even been fully implemented yet.

The state’s new voter ID law went through a dry run in last week’s primary. Starting with November’s general election, voters will be required to show photo identification.

State Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, intends to introduce legislation Monday to repeal the law.

“We have 75 co-sponsors on this particular bill already. You need 102 votes in order for it to become law,” Evans said. “So we’re going out to the public. We’re going to be having our own form of hearings around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to raise the consciousness of people.”

Opponents of the voter identification law argue that the very young and the very old may not have acceptable identification.

Supporters call it a common-sense way to preserve the integrity of every vote. They point out that many voters already have acceptable photo identification.

Evans calls the law a waste of taxpayer money.

“This bill, one, is unfair. There’s no basis or evidence that there is a need for this law, there’s no demonstration of fraud,” he said. “Secondly, we believe it is political — driven by right-wing conservatives who want to diminish voting participation in the presidential election this November.”

Voters who lack proper ID and can’t afford to pay for one can apply for a free ID at Pennsylvania driver’s license centers. But they have to know to ask for it and must fill out an affidavit certifying they don’t have enough money for the usual fee.