Analysis: Philly voters over 80 would be most inconvenienced by new ID law

[Patiod]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania's new voter ID law appears to impact Philadelphia's elderly citizens more severely than other age groups - especially those over 80, who will likely find it harder than younger voters to obtain the photo identification they will need at the polls in November.
.
.
In Philadelphia, Democrats accounted for 108,746 of the active voters without PennDot ID, compared with 15,694 Republicans - a slightly greater ratio than the Democrats' overall voter registration edge of more than 6-1.

[IMG][/IMG]

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20120718_Analysis__Philly_voters_over_80_would_be_most_inconvenienced_by_new_ID_law.html

---

Inconvenienced? Inconvenienced? How about fucking DISENFRANCHISED?????

PA DEMS: Get absentee request forms, and give them to everyone you know who might have trouble voting in November.
https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/absenteeballotform.aspx

[Coyotl]

1. This law needs to be tossed out on the basis of federal civil rights legislation ASAP

No wonder the R's are boasting that they can turn the election and defeat Obama just with ID laws in the swing states.

[happyslug]

7. Such laws have been upheld by the US Supreme Court

See CRAWFORD ET AL. v. MARION COUNTY ELECTION
BOARD ET AL.

Here is that decision:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-21.pdf

Thus the courts that have struck down such laws have used STATE Constitutional provisions NOT the Federal Constitution OR Federal Law.

[Coyotl]

8. A poll tax might not fair the same

[happyslug]

12. Poll Taxes is clearly unconstitutional, but in the above case this was NOT ruled a Poll Tax

The opinion was quite clear, Poll Taxes are unconstitutional, but to require a Photo ID was NOT a poll tax and thus constitutional.

[onehandle]

2. We were talking about this at Drinking Liberally Philly last night.

It wouldn't tilt the Philly area, but it could tilt the state, as planned.

Grrrr...

[kimbutgar]

3. This might backfire on the rethugs as some of those over 80 might be the all day Fox watching

seniors who vote republican who might be disenfranchised. It would definitely be poetic justice.

[Posteritatis]

4. Voter suppression that backfires is still voter suppression. There's zero justice to it. (nt)

[Patiod]

5. I don't want to see anyone denied the right to vote

even misguided Republicans

[Coyotl]

9. This is a heavily Dem city, not?

[Patiod]

10. So focusing voter suppression efforts here gives Romney the edge in PA

Makes sense to me

[Coyotl]

13. Check the map of voter suppression laws passed in the last two years

They are focused on the battleground states for a reason!

On edit, notice also that there is a marked pattern of racism.

=====================
Voter Suppression Measures Passed Since 2011
http://www.aclu.org/maps/voter-suppression-measures-passed-2011

Voting is a fundamental right, not a privilege. But right now across America, the right to cast a ballot is under attack. For the past century, voting rights advocates have fought, sometimes risking their lives, for each expansion of the franchise.

....

The map above outlines which states passed voter suppression measures since January 1, 2011 and where the right to vote remains under siege today. As we go into 2012, we will no doubt see new voter suppression measures proposed across the country. This map will track state legislative and other battles over the fundamental right to vote.

====================
RELEASE: New CAP Report Shows Latest Voter Suppression Efforts will Disenfranchise Millions
How Conservatives Are Conspiring to Disenfranchise Millions of Americans

April 4, 2012 - http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/releases/2012/04/voter_id_press_release.html

[Patiod]

14. Thanks! This is very interesting information.

I also think that states that don't allow former felons to vote (even after they've served their time and been released from parole) are also trying to suppress the vote.

[Coyotl]

15. The Republicans think this is how they might win in November

because they sure know they can't win fair and square

[tru]

6. absentee ballots are probably not the answer

In my state, you apply by mail via a signed request for an absentee ballot, which is mailed to the address on your voter registration material. Presumably they check your signature.

Sounds easy, right? But to have the ballot counted, you have to have it either notarized or signed by two witnesses. That can be quite difficult for an elderly or ill person to manage. I've gone from voting in virtually election for decades to not being able to vote.

[Patiod]

11. We are fortunate to still have that loophole here in PA

I will be working hard to get absentee ballot applications into the hands of every single person who might not be able to get the correct ID in order to vote in November.

I've been told (not checked it out) that the Republicans have ALWAYS sent absentee ballot apps to every registered Republican -- we will need to do this as well.

I'm sorry your state has such draconian rules for absentee, Tru.

[elleng]

16. Sent this to daughter + son in law, in NJ suburb of Philly,

asking them to do what they can do, along with their friends, to help.

Will x-post in PA.

[yellowcanine]

17. Everyone knows it is the 80 year olds committing voter fraud.

Dang geezers vote by absentee ballot in PA and then vote again in Florida. They must be stopped!