State Rep. Youngblood takes voter-ID awareness push to Germantown rec center

Continuing her efforts to educate constituents about the nuances and implications of the voter ID controversy, state Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D-198) headed over to the 13th Ward in Northwest Philadelphia on Thursday night.

There, Youngblood led a discussion at the Happy Hollow Recreation Center on Wayne Avenue in Germantown only hours after it was reported the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania agreed to an expedited hearing on the appeal of the lower court’s ruling.

ID problems locally

Among the more interesting discoveries arising during her campaign to overturn Act 18 is that several leaders in the 13th Ward are themselves bearers of compromised identification cards.

Cynthia Parker, vice-chair of the 13th Ward and leader of its second division, revealed that she was one of the estimated 8,000 constituents in Youngblood’s legislative district identified as having a problematic ID.

“On the voting ledger, I sign ‘Cynthia Parker,’ but I just got married, so my license has my married name,” she said, noting that she requested a change-of-name for voter registration rolls because “everything has to match.”

In the Eighth Division of the 13th Ward, Dolores Dennison was also on the list.

She led Sen. Shirley Kitchen and Youngblood through her division last week to speak with constituents that were similarly identified.

“My name was on there, as well as those of my daughter and son,” said Dennison, who didn’t delve into the exact cause of discrepancy. “I’m going to try to straighten it out.”

Packed schedule

According to Youngblood, Sept. 13 will be a busy day.

Not only is that the date state Supreme Court justices are expected to hear voter-ID arguments in their Philadelphia City Hall courtroom, but a hearing is scheduled in regards to a pending legal challenge over redesigned political districts.

Youngblood said that under the current plan, Philadelphia would lose a seat in the general assembly. Among the legislators joining Youngblood in the lawsuit will be Kitchen, state Reps. Curtis Thomas and Angel Cruz, and presumptive 197th District Rep. J.P. Miranda.