Voter ID 101: How to prepare for Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary

Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law will not be in full effect until the general election in November. But Tuesday’s primary will be testing grounds for the law, which requires voters to show photo ID to prevent fraud.

The American Civil Liberties Union and some state and municipal legislators have fought against the law, arguing it makes voting difficult for already disadvantaged voters.

So to make sure you’re ready for the polls Tuesday, keep the following in mind.

IDs must be current and acceptable forms of identification include:

A Pennsylvania driver’s license or non-driver’s photo ID
A valid U.S. passport
A military ID
A government-issued photo ID card
A student ID card from an accredited university in the state
A photo ID card from a Pennsylvania care facility
A non-photo driver’s license of ID card for those with religious objections to photos

For registered voted who don’t meet one of the above ID requirements, you can apply for one through PennDOT’s Voter ID website or call the Department of State’s Voter ID Hotline at 1-877-VotesPA (1-877-868-3772).

And keep this note from VotesPA in mind:  

“No one legally entitled to vote will be denied the right to do so.  If you do not have a photo ID or are indigent and unable to obtain one without payment of a fee, you may cast a provisional ballot, and will have six days to provide your photo ID and/or an affirmation to your county elections office to have your ballot count.”