Can Pennsylvania be far behind?

Two court decisions in two southern states will to make elections more representative.

First, in Texas, three federal District Court justices ruled that the gerrymandered voting districts were drawn with a “discriminatory purpose” against blacks and Latinos.  Texas is one of the states that needs “preclearance” because of a history of past discrimination.  The way the districts were drawn is a good example of why that preclearance clause was put into the Voting Rights Act.  Texas, by the way, is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.  

The second ruling concerns Florida and was reported in today’s New York Times.  The Republican-dominated legislature and governor [did I even need to say that?] passed a bill that fined volunteers who turned in registration forms more than 48 hours after they were signed.  Not only were fines imposed, but the volunteers could also be subject to felonies.  Groups like the League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote abandoned efforts to register voters.  As a result, Democratic registration is down from previous years.   A federal judge said on August 29 that he planned to block the law. 

Now we will see what the Pennsylvania Supreme Court says about the photo I.D. law.  A hearing is set for September 13.