Primary Will be Test for Voter ID Law

Tuesday’s primary election will serve as a trial run for Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law, but no one will be turned away for lacking an acceptable photo ID, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).

Pennsylvania voters will be asked to show photo ID at the polls for Tuesday’s primary election, but will not be required to produce a photo ID until November’s general election. Voters not having an acceptable ID on Tuesday will be given a handout by poll workers, listing the acceptable IDs and where to get more information.

“The primary election is basically a trial run for the new law,” Senator Scarnati said. “The intent this election cycle is to make sure voters know that the law is in place and to take steps to ensure that everyone has an acceptable ID in time for the November election.”

Voters without an acceptable photo ID in November will be allowed to vote with a provisional ballot and then have six days to provide acceptable identification to the county election office.

Acceptable IDs include:

• Photo IDs issued by the U.S. federal government or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
• Pennsylvania driver’s license or non-driver’s license photo ID (IDs are valid for voting purposes 12 months past expiration date);
• Valid U.S. passport;
• U.S. military ID - active duty and retired military (a military or veteran’s ID must designate an expiration date or designate that the expiration date is indefinite). Military dependents’ ID must contain an expiration date;
• Employee photo ID issued by federal, state, or a county or municipal government;
• Photo ID cards from an accredited public or private Pennsylvania college or university; or
• Photo ID cards issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences or personal care homes.

As part of the effort to make the transition as easy as possible for voters, Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele announced a simplified process for many voters, especially senior citizens with expired driver’s licenses, to obtain a non-driver license photo ID if they need one to vote under Pennsylvania’s new Voter ID law.

Under the new policy, those who previously held a Pennsylvania driver’s license or a non-driver license photo ID will not be required to bring a birth certificate or any other proof of identification or residence to a PennDOT driver license center to request a new non-driver photo ID for voting purposes.

The process is intended to help senior citizens who no longer drive and whose licenses have expired. Those whose licenses expired prior to 1990 should call PENNDOT’s Customer Care Center, at (800) 932-4600, to verify that their information is still in the system.

More information on the Voter ID law is available at www.VotesPA.com, or by calling toll-free 877-VOTESPA (877-868-3772).

 

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