Democracy – proper ID required

In November, voters may have to prove more than their political ideals.

Pennsylvania… In November, voters may have to prove more than their political ideals.

Pennsylvania Republicans are currently trying to pass a bill that would require voters to produce some form of photo identification at the polls. In June, the bill passed in the House and now, six weeks before the gubernatorial elections, it’s facing the Senate.

Both parties have valid points. Republicans correctly claim that voter fraud is a problem and that – as of now – photo ID means nothing at polling places. With a certain finesse, almost anyone can vote more than once.

Democrats are reasonable in arguing that this bill will create larger, potentially insurmountable obstacles for seniors who don’t have a driver’s license and residents living below the poverty line in order to vote – the most basic point of democracy.

These reasons are only part of the argument. A larger issue of debate is the proximity of this bill to the upcoming elections. Disagreements such as this one, that fall along party lines, tend to forget the often dire importance that is the real nucleus of the problem. Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, called the bill “nothing more than a political gangster rule to hijack this election this November.”

Several Republicans issued a joint statement, saying, “It is unfortunate that those with a partisan agenda have unnecessarily wasted their time and energy.”

The simple fact is that both parties are missing the point completely. Instead of tossing schoolyard insults in a puerile game of one-upmanship, the senators in Harrisburg need to figure out a way to ensure that everyone can vote – once.

Expecting voters to produce driver’s licenses assumes everyone can drive. Expecting photo IDs assumes everyone can afford an ID.

New voters who do not have the opportunity to afford or obtain a driver’s license should be provided with free ID. The process could work in a fashion similar to passports, where digital mini-labs, like the ones at the Department of Motor Vehicles and Pitt’s ID Center, are provided upon proof of voter registration free of charge.

For voters who have already registered, the same photo labs could be placed at polling booths in November so that voters without IDs could be provided with one with the same prerequisites as obtaining a passport.

Republicans in Harrisburg might claim this does nothing for the current election, and that’s a sad fact. The problem is that this bill was introduced in June and it will take a while to equalize the field for IDs. Harrisburg should announce now that voters need to obtains IDs, and give a two-year waiting period before enforcing the bill.

Sure the plan costs money, but equality – even in such a small vein – is a worthwhile place to spend it.