After reading this article, one may want to see a better system at the center. I don’t think that is going to happen.
Margie, you must have received notice of your license renewal. If you would have been stopped for some traffic violation, should you have been banned from any fines? I don’t believe your anecdote is a good example to support your view. (Incidentally, you have up to 12 months after a driver’s license expires to use it as a valid ID)
In a country where a decongestant cannot be purchased without an ID, I find it hard to conceive anyone not having some form of ID. However, we live in a country where we are still allowed to disagree with our government; even sue it if desired. This is a freedom I would not want to lose.

Allan, What part of ZERO incidents of voter fraud mention in Margie's column did you not understand? Why are you seeking to prevent some of your fellow citizens from voting? In view of ZERO incidents of voter fraud, do you think the state legislature is concerning itself with a problem that requires solution? I suggest you think a little harder as to why a citizen might not have a valid ID.

A few thoughts:
First, I do not know how people manage without an ID. Every doctor's office, hospital, medical center requires ID. I suppose the 31,000 people without ID are not getting health care of any kind?
Just because there are no recorded cases of voter fraud, it does not mean it is not happening.
The first few times I voted, I took my photo ID and my registration card with me - I was not asked for either, and was very surprised. A relative in New York tells me that they require photo ID there.
Yes, we have the freedom to vote, does that mean it should be anybody's freedom, or just those that are citizens? With so many non-citizens living here in this country, there should be away to assure that our elections are for citizens only. If you want to vote, become a citizen.
As to the difficulty getting a photo ID - there really should be a better system in place so it can be done quickly. But then again, it's the government.. Maybe we should have national photo ID cards like other countries, then getting one would not be an issue. It can be issued with your social security card.

spend the extra 1/2 hour driving to Snydersville Driver license services, NEVER a line up there, you will be back with whatever service you needed before your number would ever have been called at Allentown. I must admit I am for the ID requirements, but penndot has got to come up with a better way. I agree tie it into the social security card somehow, and if they made it mandatory to have one to recieve ANY money or help from the US government you would need ID. that sure would take care of the mjority of the problem.

I don't see how requiring an ID to vote is unreasonable or repressive. If you're too lazy to spend some time at the DMV to get an ID, you're probably too lazy to stand in line to vote. Removing fraud from the voting process is a good thing, and how it can be perceived any other way is a mystery to me.

I simply do not see what the fuss is about. If you have a valid license with a wrong address, go on line and change it. Most services for licenses are doable online. If you do not have a valid ID why are you waiting so ling to get it? We knew about this before Mays primary, it is now August. As someone else said, go to Snydersville, or some other hamlet near by. For years when my husband had to be in Western Pa for business a few days a week, we would get ours done there. We walked in and walked out 10 minutes later. The system in Allentown sucks. It always had. Once you have a valid license there does not seem to be any reason to set foot in that place.

In the Minnesota senate race in 2008, Al Franken won by 312 votes over Norm Coleman after 2.9 million votes cast.
After Franken was sworn in, a watchdog group compared voting rolls with criminal records, they identified 1099 votes that were cast by convicted felons. Felons are not allowed to vote.
177 people have been convicted , not just accused, but convicted, of voting fraudulently in the Senate race. Another 66 are awaiting trial. The numbers aren't greater because the standard for convicting someone of voter fraud in Minnesota is that they must have been both ineligible, and knowingly voted unlawfully. The accused can get off by claiming not to have known they did anything wrong.
Had we been able to prevent illegal voting in this race, we would not have Obamacare today as Franken was the 60th vote.

@Layla- please site specific incidents of in person voter fraud that would warrant this legislation. To date, I have seen none. Which means that this legislation is unnecessary. That should be the real focus of the conversation, not how easily one thinks it is to acquire the required ID. As was stated earlier; voting is a right. Any attempts to limit that right for any citizens, especially with such a weak reasoning, should be highly scrutinized. That's the true nature of conservativism.

@Brian- your example isn't relevant to the paradigm being discussed. Those were people whose voter registration should have been denied. What we're discussing is in person voter fraud where someone pretends to be someone they aren't. That's the whole reasoning behind the legislation; that people are fraudulently voting by misrepresenting who they are. There has never been any cases brought before the courts regarding this type of voter fraud. That being the case, this legislation is unwarranted.

The sad thing is the chairman of the Republican Party in PA stated his reason for voter ID, to help elect Mr. Romney. In this country we want to encourage people to vote. It is a right, and a privilege. People should not have to go to great lengths to prove citizenship. We should not create another layer to make it more difficult. We should not create a problem where none exists, there is no fraud in PA. But finally if some do think we need voter ID, don't you think the plan should have been thought out before the law was instated? Let's not disenfranchise our citizens.

Allan, my story about my expired license was meant to show that some people are going to show up at the polls thinking they have the right ID or not even realizing they need it and not be allowed to vote. Fine me if I'm stopped by a police officer and my license has expired but don't subvert this country's democratic principles by taking away my vote. Layla, the people who are defending this law in court cannot point to a single case of fraud in Pennsylvania that this law would have prevented -- not one. Doesn't that bother you?

I believe in showing an ID at the polls. The way I see it, this very interesting read is an indictment on the inefficiency of bureaucracy here. It's become so problematic, so broken that things as common sense as showing an ID before you vote can be argued against because of inefficiencies of the system. No one should have to wait 3 hours to get an ID only to be turned away at the stroke of 4pm or whatever time the place closes. Thats a joke.

There are things we need the gov't to handle. That's a fact. ID's are one of them. But as long as the system is so broken, so inefficient the folks making arguments of hardship to get your ID to vote have a point even if it makes all the sense in the world to need to show one.

I still love the fact...that the PA republicans cost us about $11 million to implement this ridiculous plan of theirs to stop people from voting. It has been provent their have been little to no acts of voter fraud as well. What a bunch of crooks.(http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-08/news/31136168_1_voter-id-bill-voters-show-photo-identification/2)

"Voter ID, which is going to ALLOW Governor Romney to win state of Pennsylvania...Done" - Mike Turzai (R) PA
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98hw3lVIC0Q)

No surprise

Thank you, Amend. May I add one further point? Felons also pay taxes and are affected directly by the laws made by their legislators. Denying them the right to vote, after they have served their sentence, is wrong. We don't deny them the privilege of paying taxes in a free society; we should not deny them their tiny say in how their taxes are spent.

Denying them to vote is part of their sentence. Maybe they should have thought about that before they became felons.

Would this mean that IF Romney signed off on the legal SEC forms, and committed a felony, when he wasn't actually present during the Bain Capital business dealings, but signed off as being so, that would make him a felon as well. He can't vote. lol

Allan Bach - Relative to Margie possibly being irresponsible for not renewing her license, and since the DMV is somehow involved in voter registration, I have a point to ponder. Presently, it is perfectly legal to walk on a road, no "license" is required, one can do the same thing on a bicycle at this time. However, as soon as a motor is involved, an engine, what one would otherwise assume is a constitutionally protected right to move about on the public thoroughfares is out the window. Is that proper do you think? I am painfully aware of Title 75 (Vehicles) and its requirements, I know what the law is, I am merely throwing this out there for discussion: Is it constitutional to be required to have a license to travel on public roads just because you are doing so in a contrivance that is self propelled?

Allan, if showing some carelessness in a responsibility is enough to take away a person's right to vote in this country then we are going to have a mighty small electorate. I was working 16-hour days at the time of my expired license and paying taxes and otherwise being a law-abiding citizen. I would understand if I had been fined for driving with an expired license because my mistake related to driving. I don't understand why you would deny someone the right to vote because of a motor vehicle-related error. As for everyone knowing about the new law, that's presuming that everyone has a computer, Internet service or gets a paper and watches the news every night. I would bet money that you could stand outside a grocery store and ask the first 100 people what kinds of photo ID will be acceptable at the polls in November and more than half would not be able to tell you. Should none of them be allowed to vote? Lots of people are busy with jobs and kids and taking care of parents and others and don't pay a lot of attention to stories about policies like voter ID. But they still pay taxes and should have the right to cast a ballot. Perhaps most people would be able to come up with some kind of ID -- a library card, an expired Medical Assistance card -- but this law requires specific kinds of ID.

This is a Tea Party question. How do you understand the term "civilization"? Civilizing someone means limiting their doing anything their impulses propel them to do. "Liberty" includes many freedoms but to be free one also has to be free of the fear of danger from a feral (uncivilized) human being. If we are afraid to leave our home because someone might carelessly drive a motor vehicle over us, then we are not really free. Those government (i.e. societal) regulations which make us safer also make us freer. Individual freedom exists in a dialectical tension with the strictures of civilization. Where one draws the line is rarely certain and almost never permanent. It makes for interesting discussions but in the meantime human safety often takes precedence over absolute human freedom.

The answer to the last question in the article about people who approved of this law, all I got to say to that is, you chose not to drive to have no license or you chose not to obtain a valid ID which to me should be held by all residents over 18, so guess what, enjoy the line you wait in because even though we had no previous cases of fraud does not mean there is not a point where it will start. If I would chose to fail to renew my driver's license and get pulled over that is my problem, same as it is your problem for not ever obtaining an ID and now you have to scramble to get one.

You are also able to vote absentee without an ID. As long as you know the last 4 digits of your social security number. To me it seems like someone who has NO WAY of getting to a PennDOT center would most likely be voting absentee anyway. Problem solved.

@Jonathan Gerard, I was not suggesting getting a valid ID online, you cannot do that! I was simply stating that if you have the wrong address on your license, it can be changed online. I have 4 adult kids who, over the years have misplaced or lost in a move, birh certificates, ss cards etc. I know it is a pain in the ass to deal with, however, if you address the problem one step at a time it is not so overwhelming. Also to give credit to Harrisburg, they have improved their turn around time in leaps and bounds. When I say things, it is usually because I have some knowledge of the subject.

@Jonathan Gerard, also in this state a felon is a felon. Whether they have served their sentence or not. Many job applications ask if you have ever been convicted of a crime. Also, you cannot vote in PA if you are a convicted felon. Again, I know of that which I speak.

Margie, are you sure that Airport Road is the only place to get an ID. Not so long ago there was an office on Memorial Parkway, between Hamilton and Linden. I would think that people who live on public transportation routes could get a bus to either of these places. I have to agree with another comment, how has anyone in this day and age gotten through life without a photo ID? Everywhere I go need one.

@Andrew Wilt, absolutely not! I believe once a person serves their sentence and is off parole their voting privliges should be restored Unfortunately, in our Commonwealth that is not the case.

Maybe there are no cases because there is no good process in place to check for fraud. I have been to the 25th st center a few times and never waited more than 30 min and I'd I had to, so what it is part of life. In NJ there were cases of dead people voting, how do you explain that? IDs are a good way of preventing any type of fraud so I am all for it. If there were a big issue if fraud everyone would be saying the government did not do anything to prevent it and would be up in arms. Well now something is being done before it becomes an issue so stop complaining, you can't have it both ways.
As far as the talk about freedom, you are free to do what ever you like but sometimes there are consequences.

so being FOR voter fraud....I guess it is ok to waste $11 million on nothing. There is no proof so lets waste $11 million of tax payer dollars on no facts at all. Maybe the PA republicans (who btw passed this pos law) in office will put aside $11 million of tax payer dollars to do research on Leprechauns and Unicorns. We need to prevent them from voter fraud as well. Hey...they may not exist, but we can't afford to have voter fraud.

Mr. Miller, no I wasn't aware that Ohio residents are crossing into Pennsylvania and being allowed to vote in our elections. Has the Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly been informed of this? Did Tom Corbett investigate this when he was AG? And why do you feel the new ID system is especially important for this election?

Wow, what an interesting discussion.
While I am not completely against needing a "valid" ID to vote, why does it need to be done this year...during a presidential election? If people felt this was necessary to implement why couldn't there be more time given?
I feel a lot of assumptions have been made in previous comments and perhaps we would all be better if we had more empathy for one another. I truly do not believe there were good intentions when this law was passed.

Just a point to ponder, when President Clinton pushed for a national ID card (with his health care proposal).......The GOP was up in arms about intrusion on freedoms, personal rights etc. Now when the issue is related to voting (a constitutional protected right) they see no problem with requiring their version of ID (ID has been required, matching signatures, first time voting in a precinct showing a utility bill etc). Just one of the reasons I have switched party registration after 30+ years being republican and voting mostly straight party line. If there was a major problem with in person voter fraud I could understand (there are 0 cases in PA). But the party of fiscal restraint spending millions in different states to "prevent" a non problem is BS, or more to the point voter manipulation which is the ultimate in voting rights fraud.

The author is right in her observation, it takes too long to get a photo ID. She is terribly incorrect in her snarky comment, " If we’re going to discriminate against non-drivers to make it harder for them to vote, let’s be fair and make it tougher for everyone."
How about making it easier for everyone to get the required ID? The DMV in every state has been an ongoing joke of institutionalized inefficiency, why inflict it on everyone? The solution is to have more customer friendly ID providers. Either streamline the DMV, or create separate ID providers.
No, do not suggest that... let's make absurd statements that equate providing identification with some sort of onerous discrimination. If that was the case then apparently other government and private concerns discriminate on a wholesale level everyday when they ask for our ID. Ridiculous...
Since the 2000 election and the Florida debacle there has been a gaggle of lawyers showing up at anticipated close or controversial elections ready to scrutinize and invalidate the opponents ballots. I'm all for a voter ID which will protect and secure the votes of legitimate voters.
If you show up at a poll without your ID, guess what - you'll be given a provisional ballot. If the election is so close that these ballots may matter you will have party lawyers there eager to assist you in validating these ballots.
In the meantime, why don't we apply ourselves to creating a fair and efficient form of ID, for drivers and non-drivers?

When my teenage son was applying for his driver's permit, he needed his social security card and birth certificate. We had neither. I did all the steps required to obtain those ID's for him in a short amount of time. Believe me, it was a lot of work, many hours, traveling, waiting, etc. Did I whine and complain? No! I got my son involved in the process, so he'll know what it takes to get required paperwork and ID's. Now the Republicans have thrown a new requirement at the voters. They are "wasting" millions of $$$ doing this. I say, "....and." Like the goverment hasn't wasted tax payers money before on ridiculous things? Come on. People who do not have the required photo ID need to step up, stop complaining, get the job done with aquiring an ID, and show these silly Republicans that they will not be repressed! The people without ID's should make a positive example of themselves by getting the neccessary item. Basically saying to the government, 'no matter what requirements you throw at us, we will provail in our right to vote'. They should NOT whine and cry because it will just put a smile on the Republicans' faces.

Thanks Angie, I'm glad you like the column. You're right -- Bill White did a terrific column on Voter ID a while ago. I wish I had written it and, as usual, I'm coming late to the party. I'm afraid if people show up at the polls and expect to vote as they always have and are turned away because they don't have the proper ID, they're going to feel that who ever is elected is not the legitimate leader because their vote wasn't counted.

Margie
You are aware that every voter in PA has a voter registration card. It is, unfortunately, not a photo. Let's say that the Commonwealth told us that instead of a new photo ID that we would have to present that card. How many voters would be able to find that card? Even though that ID says you only have to show it one time when you vote in that district. If you move you need another ID. How many people do that. Suppose they had said get a new ID that says you must show it at the polls as long as you vote at the poll. These are the might have beens all within the power of the Commonwealth. Would we all sit aroud crying in our beer? Not only do most of us have a usable ID under the new law, you can get a new one for free. Stop the crying and kevetching. Go out and get a proper ID. I am sick and tired of the moaning. If you are to lazy to do this and your so called friends and family are to lazy to take you to get one then I simply say, you don't vote. We all know that across this land probably in all 50 states voter fraud goes on across this nation. Either we fix it or we all become Chicago.

Oops. The rest of the story -- WELCOME TO THE PA DL BUREAU - The same clerks waiting on this person are always slow. They were also taking care of regular customers who had other need besides getting an ID. There has always been very slow dimwitted clerks serving anybody needing anything at the PA DL bureau off Airport Road. Notoriuosly slow, uncaring attitude, and bordering on discoutous clerks any time. Lucky to get anything done in two hours.

Why are so many people without this key piece of identification? That they waited until this close to the election is nit the law's fault. Clearly they have little respect for the process to have waited this long.

This is no different then when I moved to PA and gad to get a PA driver's license issued. The same ID so many will readily show to buy a six-pack or a drink in a bar, people are fighting having to show when voting.

It's exercising the franchise, people, it's one if the core freedoms which makes our American citizenship unique and a freedom much blood has been spilled over.

Respect their sacrifices, show your ID and vote.

I just wonder how many people fighting this law support the mandatory drug testing law for welfare recipients and the mandatory ultra sound for women chosing to abort. They will support those laws but don't dare ask them to show an ID when voting. Sounds like people that should not be voting, because they will elect someone into office that violates other people's rights, but don't dare touch their rights and ask them to do something.

So that ID is so important that I am able to produce it when I walk into turkey hill or wawa to buy a pack of cigarettes to make sure I am not some 16 or 17 yr old attempting to buy them and smoke them, but however you can vote for who is in charge of our whole country and not prove who you are. Sounds fair to me. Yes I chose to smoke so I can show the ID, but same goes if you choose to vote.

how does he get away with it. That Romney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9L9A1IMTQo&feature=relmfu

this website is turning into a typical liberal blog. no actual news-just commetary. margie, check your bleeding heart at the door.

Men marched for weeks without shoes, feet in rags and bleeding with Washington to have the right to vote. And someone cannot stand in line awhile to get an ID / register to vote? Our troops marched for hundreds of miles sweating with malaria, wounds and dysentery in the Civil War to protect the right to vote. But someone cannot ride to the ID center?. Men and women captured as prisoners of war have suffered in torture and made to stand for hours in the German snow or blazing Pacific sun - but someone cannot wait awhile in line to get a valid ID? Factory workers stood for 8- 12 hours every day for years to help our troops win the wars of freedom, but people think it is inconvenient and a real sacrifice of their time and muscles to have to stand awhile or sit in line to get a valid photo ID so their vote is countered properly. No more excuses of loss of time, or wear on the feet please. A tiny sacrifice of time and energy please to preserve the integrity of the vote after so many have sacrificed so much for your rights to have it count. If you are sick, there is an absentee ballot still available. But if you are able - go to wait a liitle while in line and get a photo ID and join all those who waited and protected our freedoms. While waiting remind others of all the time people stood, marched, suffered and spent in lines for this right to vote. Tough he little wait out.

@Michael, sorry to burst your bubble but I have volunteered to help! I won't stand around the DMV, since I am no spring chicken and my handicap prevents me from standing for long periods of time, but I will drive to and from and wait patiently in my car.

The more I read on this issue, the clearer it becomes. If I am to believe (I don't see why I wouldn't) that the percentage of voter fraud in Pa. is ZERO, then why all this hassle? Where is all the voter fraud? Who is the one responsible for this troubling, confusing and interferring with lives situation?

Who started this?

@Michael, you can contact your local representative. Justin Simmons has stated that he will make sure that everyone who wants to vote will have a valid id. I am sure that Mr. Deely ofc will tell you the same. You can give them your information and if and when they are contacted by people who need assistance you will be called upon.

@Michael, thanks. If all what you say is true, that shows the GOP as being sneaky and underhanded and trying to manipulate the voting process. One more hurdle. If that is so, then why would ANYONE vote for ANYONE in favor of such a stupid obstacle? If the voting process has been rolling along with both parties being elected, why is this being forced down our throats now?

Just because they can? Stupid. Again.

@Michael, I gave you a response. This is how I volunteered. Why don't you go and volunteer somewhere, or better yet get a job.

Hey... it's a democracy. 65% of citizens favor this law. So it's a good law. Anything that prevents the lazy from voting is generally a good thing.

Once upon a time, the "voting" majority in this country favored slavery and keeping women out of the voting booth. Civil Rights should not be subject to a vote.

I think this article says way more about the condition of the Allentown DMV! I went with my son to the one on 25th st. They seem to know what they are doing there and are very pleasant. I think we were in and out in under an hour.

Rosemary, you are right. Michael wants to know why he has not heard of anyone volunteering to drive people. It is because the people he so vhemently "defends" have made no effort to get help. I agree with you about the DMV in Allentown. I have never been there when it was not a mad house. What Margie experienced is "a day in the life" at the Allentown DMV, I doubt it was all caused by people trying to get picture ID's. What happened to the place on American Parkway? It was there within the last year.

Michael, who are the 750,000 people in this area? How do you know they exist? Two months is a short time, but what if they asked for help in April, when we knew about this? Did these 750,000 people vote in the primaries? Did they not show ID, or did they not have it? There is no way of knowing. There were plenty of people on Patch who said they had ID but would not show it. How can you not say they are part of the numbers you are quoting? It is all propaganda fed to people like you who cannot think on their own. They take the party line, right or not. By the way, I am a registered Democrat. The difference between you and me is that I think for myself.

Nonsense. The ONLY people I have heard actually trying to help people get IDs are those who are opposed to this law. The Republicans who enacted it have not lifted a finger to get voters to the DMV. And the blowhards who defend the law and denounce fellow Pennsylvanians for daring to be without a photo ID ("in this day and age!!!") don't show any interest in cleaning up the mess they support. When asked why, they generally spew venom about the character of those without IDs. Mary Anne is the first supporter I've ever encountered who claims she really intends to help transport people to the DMV. But she hasn't done it yet...and above she muses that there's something wrong with these people for not having gotten out the the DMV already. So call me skeptical.

"The day after a judge upheld Pennsylvania's new voter identification law, the lead plaintiff in the suit seeking to block the law went to a PennDot office and was issued the photo ID card she needs to vote."

More:
http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-18/news/33249335_1_penndot-id-new-voter-identification-law-penndot-center