Groups working to ensure residents have proper ID to vote
Since the passage of the law requiring voters to present photo identification at the election polls, civic groups and lawmakers are reaching out to assist the community.
The Fayette County NAACP, East End Concerned Citizens Group, East End Seniors Group and the office of state Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Township, are among those working to help Fayette County voters secure the proper identification needed to cast their ballot.
In March, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a law that requires voters throughout Pennsylvania to provide an appropriate form of photo identification at the polls starting in November.
Earlier this week, the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced it will issue free voter ID cards. Current registered voters will need to complete a Department of State identification application stating they are registered and do not have an approved form of identification for voting.
For more information, visit online at www.dos.state.pa.us.
Local organizations are also doing what they can to help Fayette County voters.
The Fayette County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold a voter registration and education drive from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 at Uniontown Mall.
“Our purpose is to register people to vote, and to make sure people don’t have barriers related to the Pennsylvania Voter ID law,” said Gwendolyn Ridgley, president of the Fayette County NAACP. “It (the event) is to help facilitate people to obtain the right form of identification.”
At their booth, located near the Hallmark store in the mall, representatives from NAACP will have information about the new law, and will help people register to vote and share information about the voting process.
“The main thing is to educate people and to make sure they do register to vote and encourage them to vote,” said Ridgley.
Ridgley also wanted people to be aware that residents requiring transportation to the driver’s license center at 855 N. Gallatin Ave. Extension in North Union Township can make arrangements by calling 724-430-8107. Transportation also can be arranged by calling Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation (FACT) at 1-800-321-RIDE (7433).
Since the spring, the East End Concerned Citizens Group and the East End Seniors Group have been active in helping voters obtain the proper identification.
The organizations have distributed voter registration forms and information about the new law at the Fayette County Family Fun Fest in June and more recently at the East End Community Spirit Day in August. The group also has shared information about the new law with area businesses, churches and community groups.
“We are all about people voting. We feel that is very important. When you give up that right to vote, it is devastating,” said Patricia Henderson, president of East End Concerned Citizens Group and the acting president of the East End Seniors Group. “We have had people say that it is too much of a hassle, that it is just one vote. If you get thousands of people who say that, it is thousands of votes.”
The East End United Community Center is offering transportation to the driver’s license center. Arrangements can be made by calling 724-437-1660.
Mahoney’s office is offering assistance to voters by answering questions they might have about the law.
“The rules (for Voter ID law) have changed. It has been made a little more lax. We get email updates every day,” said Marsha Widmer, legislative assistant.
If anyone has a question, they are encouraged to find the answer before going to the polls come November. Without the proper identification, they might be turned away.
“As far as I know now, if they (voters) show up without proper ID, they won’t be able to vote. A lot of people still don’t realize that they don’t have the right ID,” said Widmer.
To speak to a representative from Mahoney’s office, call 724-438-6100.