Northwest Philly legislators to formally launch Voter ID repeal effort Monday

A pair of Northwest Philadelphia lawmakers will introduce a bill in Harrisburg on Monday that calls for a complete repeal of the state’s controversial Voter ID law.

State Representatives John Myers (D-201) and Dwight Evans (D-203) will formally present House Bill 2313 during the first legislative session following the Easter recess.

“This law gives people the opportunity to correct a bad law,” said Evans. “It gives people something to organize around.”

Fraud vs. disenfranchisement

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The current law, House Bill 934, requires voters to present photo identification at the polls during state and federal elections. It takes full effect during November’s General Election.

Evans and other opponents argue that the law will only serve to disenfranchise mostly Democratic voters — namely the elderly and minorities — who don’t have or can’t easily obtain a photo ID.

Proponents maintain the law will help protect against voter fraud at the polls.

Gov. Tom Corbett signed the measure into law in mid-March on the heels of two highly partisan votes in both the House and Senate.

Confidence in a repeal

Evans said that with enough public pressure, he believes he can change the minds of his Republican counterparts and repeal the law.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania will file a lawsuit challenging the current law’s constitutionality early next week. Evans said during the primaries on Tuesday that he would support that suit.

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