Pa Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law one of the nation’s toughest voter identification measures Wednesday night, just hours after it achieved final passage in the legislature.
The House voted 104-88 March 14 in favor of HB 934, which the Senate approved in a 26-23 vote March 7.
Pennsylvania is the 16th state to require photo ID when voters head to the polls.
Critics say the legislation will lessen voter participation among some populations, and Democrats have accused Republicans of using the measure to dissuade Democratic turnout at the polls.
Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.) said that the “sole intent of this legislation is to keep as many seniors, minorities, low-income and urban residents from voting because these groups are more likely to vote against Republican candidates. It is dangerous legislation and denigrates a constitutional right that millions of Americans have died to protect.”
Republicans have said the measure would cost about $4 million to implement, while Democrats have put that figure closer to $11 million.
State Sen. Larry Farnese, who voted against the measure, said the effort is not in line with the governor’s pledge to cut expenses.
“When Gov. Corbett gave his budget address, he said that Pennsylvania still needs to make drastic cuts to everything from education to social services because of the weak economy,” Farnese said. “But the Republicans found [money] to require voters to show identification at the poles. What are their priorities? Are they using this legislation to keep the disabled, minorities and young voters away from the primary that is just seven weeks away?”
Farnese went on to say that the legislation is a “solution in search of a problem that does not exist.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].