Is this a news article or an opinion piece? Is the PA voter ID Law strict?? How do you know?? Did you compare it to other states??
This is the problem with news reporting. The reporters do not know how to write something without inserting their opinions. It would have been more accurate to say Pennsylvania passed a Voter ID Law, or even a controversial ID Law, but not "A STRICT VOTERR ID LAW." Also, why is this article not signed. Guys/gals, this is your job, take some time to do it right!!

Let's get down to the real issue. As a photo ID is required almost everywhere now, there is nothing wrong with especially NOW requiring a photo ID when voting! It's simple to get and carry a photo ID. Only those who want to commit fraud will encourage a NO photo ID requirement! Otherwise, why would you NOT have a photo ID for your own security protection? Are we encouraging 'Chicago Politics'… “vote early, vote often”… “allowing dead people or illegals to vote?” To keep everyone honest.... please, photo IDs for each person, especially if they are voting!!

Agree. Why does the patch report and almost celebrate fringe lib groups, ie the anarchist dwi checkpointers, the radicals fighting graterford, and constantly refer to the new voter id law as "strict." Its like calling chic-fil-a a hate group. They sell chichen sandwiches! But if the media uses words like "strict," and continues to editorialize, people will search out facts not opionion. Thats why the nightly news and newspapers are in the dumps. The people have grow tired of the lib slant. Be warned patch.

Just because it's required everywhere else, does that really mean that it's necessary in a place where it's never been needed before? I'm sorry, but this just creates more problems than fixes. You know how many people are unable to get IDs because of the distance necessary to get to a DMV office or to get the forms of ID needed to even get that ID in the first place? I know quite a few seniors who have voted for decades that now have trouble getting a few blocks down the street. You expect them to get on a bus and then possibly transfer to another to make it to the DMV? You expect them to even have the money to make it down there? Removing General Assistance will deny many people the ability to even get down to those Drivers Licensing Centers financially. Beyond the expense of organizing bus and van trips down to the DMV, many of our seniors, disables and poorest will be without the ability to vote this next election.

I'm really appalled by people screaming about "liberal media". The liberal media is nowhere near as loud or influential as the conservative media. Conservative media spouts one line and says, "Believe what I say." Liberal media, and all non-partisan media, give real facts and allow the public to weigh in. I see a huge difference. With the voter-ID issue, you are creating a solution for a problem that only exists in conservative media. State representatives, including the governor, have said they don't know what's in the law. Nobody has found a case of in person voter fraud in PA, let alone more than 3 or 4 in modern US history. That's not much of a case for adding bureaucracy to a process that is vital to the American way of life.

Deceased people and illegal aliens cannot be allowed to vote!!!

The timing of this law reveals it for what it is, a republican legislator commented that it will give Pa to Romney; It's intent is to make it difficult to impossible for elderly and those who would find it difficult to get an updated voter ID. There has been no//zero cases of voter fraud in Pa.

Indiana's photo voter ID law was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2008 by a margin of 6-3, which was more decisive than the Court's 5-4 ACA (Obamacare) decision! The majority said the photo requirement was not an unreasonable burden or obstacle to voting. This is why the opposition to the law in Pennsylvania did not seek relief in federal court. They knew they would lose!

No one should have any problem with any measure that makes the vote more secure, unless you have something to gain by having less control over who votes; which explains why you have opposition to the law from Democrats.

@Julie: Did you skip you high school government classes. ONLY CITIZENS can VOTE!! Not legal residents, or illegal residents, not unregistered voters, not dead voters, not allowed to vote twice (as in two residences in two states where they pay taxes. If one cannot make a commitment to become a citizen, then they do not want to assimilate into our culture. Diversity of culture is bringing this county down. In the past, immigrants by the second generation were speaking english and assimilate into our culture. Their heritage, proud as they were was secondary to THE AMERICAN DREAM. We have one of the most liberal immigration policy in the world, but we have rules. The illegal aliens and registered aliens can vote in theire country of origin, no whoops maybe they can't.

Appalling, julie, is an article that only cites "lib" sources. There was no mention of an opposing view point. If an opposing view was scarcely mentioned it would be described as confused and disenfranchizing. Just because you agree with the editors point of view does not remove the importance of a balanced article. The simple fact is that the dem party has relied on the slow, lazy, excuse makers for years. If it really was the party of the working people I would gladly jum b p ship today, but thats not the case. I vote in every election, when I move I make sure everything is in order to vote, and vote for the guy who will do the least damage.

Taking peoples right to vote away, maybe second amendment "remedies" are need here.

If you don't have a regular drivers license with your picture on it, you can still get a license with your picture that doesn't allow you to drive. My neighbor has one!

Well Smyrna, if you vote for the person that will do the least damage you play right into their game. The two parties won't let anyone else run. There isn't a dimes worth of difference between the two parties. The republicans do whatever they want, the democrats play along. That way nothing will change and they can go on raking in the money for the rich and big corporations on the backs of average americans.

"Persuading the people to vote against their own best interests has always been the genius of the American political elite since the beginning." (Gore Vidal, pbuh)

I apologize for not knowing that resident aliens could not vote. That being said, they should be able to. They pay taxes if they work legally, right? Why aren't they allowed to vote?

Also, the fact that IDs are available is not in question. I have one of the Non-Driver's IDs mentioned. That being said, it was very tough for me to go and get it. I had to wait until I actually had the money to take SEPTA to go and get it.I did not have the social support system I have now, so I had nobody to ask for a few bucks to get it. It's a ride of about 1 hr 45minutes from Pottstown with SEPTA including the transfer in Norristown. Then, I had to take a pretty dangerous walk from Swede Rd down a hill on the side of a driveway without much space to walk. The licensing center is not pedestrian friendly at all. Do you think any of these seniors who need their IDs will be able to walk that, let alone get down to the center? True, there is a licensing center in Pottstown, but it is really small and will only help you out if it's a renewal and you have your camera card. Requiring a senior to take this trip just to vote will make them think it's just not worth it anymore. Is that what you want to happen? Many people, including the poor, will not be able to make it there because they have no cash anymore since General Assistance was cut.

Sorry to say, but the only thing this law will do is disenfranchise liberal voters lowering the voting rolls and give the election over to Romney and the GOP. This is a totally partisan attack on the mot likely to vote for Obama. Instead of promoting Romney on his record, the GOP has taken to eliminating the oppositions ability to easily vote.

And Smyrna, how's voting for damage workin out for ya?

Julia: They can't vote because they're not citizens. Please, take a civics course. We have a Constitution. Do you know what that is?? Read it. If you don't understand it, ask somewone who does. With all due respect, you come off as ignorant. (notice I did not say you were ignorant, although you could be).

Julie, smedly, dont hate the player hate the game. Smedly, you railed against the two party system. News flash- its what we got. You and I have to deal with. I m not for it but there is no effective way to change it or substition for it. The people of the us have to move to a new direction on thier own compulsion. I dont see that happening. The only course is to vote for the other guy.

There is nothing in the constitution saying that citizens are the only ones allowed to vote. There are only amendments explaining the ways in which you cannot be prevented to vote, such as a poll tax (24th amendment) or on account of gender (19th amendment). Nowhere does it say that you must be a citizen to vote. As recently as 1926, resident aliens were allowed to vote in Arkansas, the last state out of 40 to finally drop allowing resident aliens the right to vote. So, barring state laws, you could have resident aliens, who already pay taxes to the IRS, voting in elections. I think it's wrong for the government to take taxes from someone but noot allow them a part in the political process.

Julia: See Article IV Section 2. "The Citiizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. Amendment IV refers to rights of citizens. Amendment XIX refers to the rights of citizens to vote in regard to sex. The Constitution makes reference to citizens throughout, not non citizens.
But that aside, if paying taxes is your guideline for voting, 47% of Americans do not pay Federal Income taxes. Should they not be allowed to vote for Congress and the President? or do you have a rational for that. If I pay taxes in two states, should I be ablle to vote in those states. You see Julia, you have a set a guidelines you want, others have theirs. You refer to previous State laws that permitted resident aliens to vote, the also dissallowed women, had poll taxes for Blacks, reading tests etc. They could have been wrong and changed their laws to relect that.

Curmudgeon, I like your point. If you don't pay taxes, you don't vote. Those that don't pay taxes are the ones being pandered to by the left. "If you don't vote for me, they will take away your government paid insurance, housing, food, whatever"

Smyrna your last post is pathetic. "its what we got. You and I have to deal with. there is no effective way to change it or substition for it."
I can just imagine you saying that to George Washington, Gandi, Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther King. It's a two party system because the two parties are so greedy, so corrupt, so evil they even won't let anyone else run. They rant and rave about each other and make you believe you have the choice of freedom and democracy. The two parties are really one party with two heads. I don't buy it. I won't vote for them. One thing is for sure. They won't control everything forever. Come over from the dark side and vote for a real person. Not a corporation disguised as a human being.