Challenge to misleading voter ID materials may not move fast enough

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Challenge to misleading voter ID materials may not move fast enough

POSTED: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 5:10 PM

An effort to hold the commonwealth accountable for continuing to distribute voter-ID educational materials that may be misleading has run up against a major obstacle. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson, who on Oct. 2 ruled that photo IDs could not be required in this November's elections in Pennsylvania, today gave the state until next Tuesday to respond to the legal challenge. Critics say the state's education materials perpetuate the impression that voter ID is still required for this election, and could suppress turnout.

Committee of Seventy president Zachary Stalberg wrote to Simpson arguing that the Oct. 30 deadline for the state's response "effectively precludes meaningful remedial action." The damage of voter repression, by then, could be done.

According to the complaint, the commonwealth "sent false information to seniors' homes," stating that "voters are required to show photo ID on Election Day." It also points to ongoing ad campaigns, like the bus ad, photographed in Harrisburg on Oct. 17, part of the ongoing (and only slightly revised) "Show It" campaign that's been running on TV, outdoor and direct mail.

Posted by Samantha Melamed @ 5:10 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
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