Philadelphia voter advocate launches new app for voter ID laws

In advance of the presidential election, advocates in Pennsylvania are trying all avenues to explain the state’s new Voter ID law.

It’s unclear how many Pennsylvania voters lack photo identification. The Department of State thinks it’s less than one percent.

Faye Anderson of Philadelphia will launch an online tool this week to walk voters in all 50 states through local requirements.

“We’re trying to minimize the number of voters who give up in frustration,” said Anderson.

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“Concerned citizens in the birthplace of our democracy came together to use technology to help our fellow citizens remove barriers to the ballot box,” she said.

Anderson says even if the people most likely to struggle the most complying with the ID law, such as elderly voters, might not be quick to use the “Cost of Freedom App,” she thinks the tool could be helpful for friends or family to walk others through the process.

The ACLU has sued to overturn Pennsylvania’s voter ID law, saying that it creates an unconstitutional barrier to casting ballots.

The law, passed in March, had a “dry run” in the May primary and is scheduled to kick in for the fall election.

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