11/04/2005 - Threat to PA Voting Rights
From: Elizabeth Milner, LWVPA President, lwvpa@epix.net

URGENT ALERT - IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

STOP THE PA GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM RESTRICTING VOTING RIGHTS AND PREVENT A STEP BACKWORD FOR VOTING RIGHTS IN PENNSYLVANIA

As early as Monday, November 7 the Pennsylvania General Assembly could take final action on legislation that would drastically restrict the voting rights of Pennsylvania Citizens. HB 1318 would require every citizen to present a photo ID when they go to vote. Currently, photo ID’s are only required of first time voters. The bill would also strip away the right to vote from convicted felons who have been released from prison on probation or parole.

The League of Women Voters opposes requiring voters to present identification. Such a provision selectively impacts citizens who do not have identification because they do not drive, go to school or engage in another activity under which they would be issued an ID. Even though the HB1318 provides that they can get a free ID for voting purposes such a provision creates two classes of voters, those who have the required ID’s as a matter of course and those who need to apply for an ID specifically in order to vote. Making people get an ID to vote is the equivalent of a poll tax. The League believes that felons who are released from prison on parole should be encouraged to participate in all aspects of civic life, including voting, as part of their return to society.

HB 1318 has passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is now in the Senate State Government Committee where it could be reported out for final action on the Senate floor at any time. If your senator is one of the members of the Senate State Government Committee listed below contact him/her immediately and ask them to vote against HB1318. If your senator is not a member of the committee ask him/her to urge their colleagues on the committee to oppose this bill.

Members of the Senate State Government Committee: Charles D. Lemmond, Majority Chair, Robert J. Thompson, Vice Chair, Anthony H. Williams, Minority Chair, Joe Conti, Dominic F. Pileggi, Terry L. Punt, Norah W. Wenger, Sean F. Logan, Michael A. O’Pake, Christine M. Tartaglione.

How to contact your Pennsylvania Senator

If you know your Pennsylvania senator’s name you can get his/her contact information including email address by going to http://www.capwiz.com/lwv/dbq/officials. At the bottom of the page select PA, click on “state” and enter the legislator’s last name in the box provided. If you need to find the name of your state representative and senator go to http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm?papowerNav=%7C. In the box at the upper right enter your extended Zip Code. If you do not know your extended Zip code, click on “help” or consult a piece of junk mail you have received at your home address.

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