Mar 23, 2012 5 min read

When the GOP took control of the governor’s mansion and both the state House and Senate last year, we argued that since they would have complete control over the legislative process, voters could – and should – hold the party accountable for the path on which they take Pennsylvania.

Well, here in mid-March we find our state facing several compelling issues: coping with draconian budget cuts to education, dealing with significant unemployment, struggling with how to deal with the gas industry moving in at an unprecedented pace and countless pressing local and regional concerns.

So with all of those issues on the table, what has the country’s most bloated Legislature spent the last couple of weeks discussing? Well, sure enough they passed a bill to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

The bill would require voters to show photo identification before their votes could be counted, beginning with this year’s presidential election. It was passed by both the Senate and House and then signed into law by Gov. Corbett.

It is touted by Republicans as a way to prevent voter fraud, which they say is most likely going undetected and may not be prosecuted even when discovered.

What the GOP failed to produce, however, was any actual evidence that this type of fraud has ever occurred. While we’ll admit that it is possible that someone could try to vote under someone else’s name, it is highly unlikely that such an endeavor could be coordinated at such a scale as to have any impact whatsoever.

This is the classic example of governance that tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist – something Republicans usually rail against.

Of course, Republicans are only against government interference when it doesn’t line up with their political strategy. State Democrats rightly attacked this ridiculous voter ID law as a barely veiled attempt to defeat President Barack Obama by making it harder for people who tend to vote Democratic to cast ballots, such as the poor, minorities and college students – as well as the elderly and disabled.

While the Democrats cried foul, they were powerless to stop the GOP. Critics from the left argued this bill would erect modern-day literacy tests or poll taxes while undoing civil rights-era battles to secure voting rights for the poor and minorities

“The essence comes down to one basic truth: That it stifles our fundamental right to vote that is enshrined in our democracy,” said Rep. Daniel Frankel, D-Allegheny. “Any attempt to infringe that right is an affront to the constitution, and it is an affront to the founders of this nation.”

By passing a law that makes it harder to vote, the Pennsylvania GOP is following their national party marching orders. Of the 16 states to pass such a law, all are controlled by the GOP.

We guess what passes for states’ rights and “not being told what to do” from the federal level doesn’t apply when it’s the national Republican Party is doing the ordering.

Frankly, one of the most appalling aspects of this whole debacle is the fact that a major political party trying to make it harder for voters to exercise their fundamental right to participate in democracy is not drawing an outcry from all corners.

It’s an assault on the very Constitution that the GOP holds in such high regard – correction: that they hold in such high regard when it is convenient for them.

Each election is followed by hand wringing over low turnouts. When an average of 20 or 30 percent of voters turn out for off-year elections, we bemoan that Americans are not taking their civil responsibility to heart. This cynical, politically motivated bill is concrete evidence that the state Republican Party has no interest in increasing voter turnout no matter what they say.

If nothing else, by requiring voters to show identification, there will be delays at the polls, serving to make it harder for everyone to cast ballots. People looking to cast their ballots quickly could now find themselves waiting in long lines to vote. Without a doubt this will even further curb voter turnout in future elections.

And lest you think this is something only concerning Democrats, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, made up of both Democrat and Republican officials, has warned that the mandate will increase the length of lines at polls, create confusion for some voters and result in no greater security for the ballot.

This voter ID bill smacks of blatant political gamesmanship: abusing their hold over the state to ram through self-serving legislation that makes it unnecessarily hard for some voters – who just happen to vote Democratic – to get to the polls. It’s absolutely reprehensible.

Let’s hope, though, that this isn’t the end to this mess. The American Civil Liberties Union has talked about challenging the law, and we hope they follow through with that threat. While we don’t always agree with the ACLU, this is one issue that we’re thoroughly in agreement on. This bill must be stricken down as soon as possible.