As if the voter ID thing wasn’t screwed up enough

After all the confusion and controversy over Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law, you’d like to think one place you could count on for reliable information is official voter registration materials.

You’d be wrong.

Melody Kramer, who until recently was the Fresh Air’s producer for online media, changed her voter registration at the end of July because she’d moved to a different voting division in Philadelphia.

Above is the advisory that came with her new voter registration card, which says she must present a form of identification when she shows up at her new polling place and clearly states, “This card is an acceptable form of identification.”

But it isn’t.

Under the new law, every voter must present one of certain specified forms of photo ID.

I called the office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, which supervise elections in the city, and Deputy Commissioner Dennis Lee told me his office couldn’t print new cards until they got updated language from the Department of State, which oversees Pennsylvania election law.

Lee said that language finally came two to three weeks ago, and the commissioners have now printed new materials making it clear voters need photo ID, not just their registration card to vote.

Kramer knew the information that came with her new voter registration card was wrong.

“I’m just appalled,” Kramer said. “They’ve really done a terrible job of informing voters. They have to have ways to inform people who aren’t  connected to the news and to the internet.”