The judge who ruled that the Pennsylvania Photo I.D. law was constitutional said there were remedies for voters. He noted that voters could apply for an absentee ballot without a picture I.D.
Judges often seem to be unaware of the real world. In Pennsylvania there are two reasons you can apply for an absentee ballot. One is that you have a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to vote in person. For example, you have difficulty in walking.
The second reason is that you will be absent on the day of the election. You will be on a business trip or on vacation.
The lack of a picture I.D. is not a valid excuse. Voter fraud in Pennsylvania is a felony. So if you are able to get to the polls, and you are not absent from the area, and you apply for an absentee ballot, you have committed voter fraud. That’s a felony.
Sandra and I visited the Registrar’s Office in Jim Thorpe to clarify the policy. The Registrar will ask the County Solicitor for an opinion. I believe that he will say that lack of a photo I.D. does not constitute a reason to request an absentee ballot. That means the ruling makes absolutely no sense.
Did the judge who issued the ruling today even look at the application for an absentee ballot?
I have always thought that judges were supposed to be impartial in their judgements. It appears that the deck is staked against voters. Tis a truly sad day in the state of Pennsylvania. Bottom line is, the republicans appear to have won and democracy has lost. Sad!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how people in other countries view us since we are supposed to be the finest democracy in the world. I would think they are skeptical and we are losing their respect for the U.S.
Voters should just plan a trip to Allentown or out of their district on election day. The Judge said its OK to get an Absentee ballot if one will not be in their district on election day. Who will know the difference anyway. I am sure that people that were on vacation and traveling have already done it in the past, I have been away and done it. The Judge is telling us its OK as all we need to do is submit an absentee ballot.
ReplyDeleteHey geojr--what a great idea. That can solve a lot of problems.
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