Wednesday, February 22, 2006
“Governor Rendell Acts to Protect Fundamental Right to Vote, says Bill Places Unnecessary Burden on PA Voters”
What Are They Afraid Of?
In a move that surprised no one, the Governor vetoed House Bill 1318, which would have tightened identification requirements to prevent voter fraud. It is pretty straightforward: voters would have to produce any of the following to vote—a passport; a driver’s license; a student, government, or employee ID; a voter registration card; a firearm permit; a utility bill; a bank statement; or a paycheck or government check.
When a person turns 18 and is eligible to vote, it is reasonable to believe that if they cannot obtain a voter registration card and hold on to it in order to vote, then they should be prevented from voting.
But the Governor says that voter participation levels are too low that it should not be made harder to vote in Pennsylvania. Voting is not hard in Pennsylvania for people of conscience who obey the law. Moreover, there is no higher duty of elected officials than to protect those who voted legitimately from those who abuse the sacred right and privilege of citizen participation in the democratic process. Shame on those who coddle and condone those who would break the bonds of trust that are necessary to bind us together as a civilized society.
The Governor expressed in his news release that having to produce ID would “disenfranchise people living in nursing homes, a displaced family, or the state’s poorest [citizens]”, a theme echoed throughout the letters he received in support for the veto. Groups such as Common Cause, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, AARP Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers are just some of the groups that urged him to do so.
What are these groups afraid of? Consider this quote from the Teachers’ union letter referring to the possible disenfranchisement: “the loss of these votes alone could easily cost us the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race in 2006 or the Presidential election in Pennsylvania (and possibly the nation) in 2008” (emphasis added). Are they really saying they can’t win elections in a fair and open process?
Anyone looking for how corrupt electoral politics has become in Pennsylvania need look no further than this latest veto.
In a move that surprised no one, the Governor vetoed House Bill 1318, which would have tightened identification requirements to prevent voter fraud. It is pretty straightforward: voters would have to produce any of the following to vote—a passport; a driver’s license; a student, government, or employee ID; a voter registration card; a firearm permit; a utility bill; a bank statement; or a paycheck or government check.
When a person turns 18 and is eligible to vote, it is reasonable to believe that if they cannot obtain a voter registration card and hold on to it in order to vote, then they should be prevented from voting.
But the Governor says that voter participation levels are too low that it should not be made harder to vote in Pennsylvania. Voting is not hard in Pennsylvania for people of conscience who obey the law. Moreover, there is no higher duty of elected officials than to protect those who voted legitimately from those who abuse the sacred right and privilege of citizen participation in the democratic process. Shame on those who coddle and condone those who would break the bonds of trust that are necessary to bind us together as a civilized society.
The Governor expressed in his news release that having to produce ID would “disenfranchise people living in nursing homes, a displaced family, or the state’s poorest [citizens]”, a theme echoed throughout the letters he received in support for the veto. Groups such as Common Cause, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, AARP Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers are just some of the groups that urged him to do so.
What are these groups afraid of? Consider this quote from the Teachers’ union letter referring to the possible disenfranchisement: “the loss of these votes alone could easily cost us the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race in 2006 or the Presidential election in Pennsylvania (and possibly the nation) in 2008” (emphasis added). Are they really saying they can’t win elections in a fair and open process?
Anyone looking for how corrupt electoral politics has become in Pennsylvania need look no further than this latest veto.
