Judge Robert Simpson ruling on Pennsylvania’s voter identification law

August 16, 2012

Demonstrators on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol protest the voter identification law. (Credit: AP/Marc Levy)

Hour 1

Yesterday, in a highly anticipated decision, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson refused to grant an injunction that would have stopped Pennsylvania’s controversial voter identification law. The challenge to the law was brought by voter advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP that said the requirement to present a state-approved ID at the voting booth would prevent more than a million Pennsylvanians from casting their ballots in November. Instead, Judge Simpson concluded that ”the photo ID requirement of Act 18 is a reasonable, non- discriminatory, non-severe burden when viewed in the broader context of the widespread use of photo ID in daily life.” Opponents of the law say they will immediately appeal the ruling. We’ll get reaction to the decision from election law expert RICK HASEN, WITOLD “VIC” J. WALCZAK, theACLU’s of PennsylvaniaLegal Director who argued the case in court, and RONALD RUMAN of thePennsylvania Department of State, the office primarily responsible for elections oversight and implementation in Pennsylvania.

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