On July 25, 2012, the Commonwealth Court hearing on the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's Voter ID law began. Known as Act 18, the bill requires that anyone intending to vote must show photo identification at the polls.

Arnold & Porter attorney David Gersch heads the legal team for the Plaintiffs in the complaint filed against the Governor of Pennsylvania, Governor Corbett, and the Secretary of the State, Carol Aichele.

The Plaintiffs have filed a Petition of Preliminary Injunction against seeking a stop before November's General Election while the ultimate goal is a repeal of the law.

In his opening argument before Judge Robert Simpson, Gersch declared the law will disenfranchise voters, especially the elderly, minorities, and women. "The direction of history has always been to expand the franchise, and this is a good thing." Asserting that Act 18 contradicts the constitutional right to vote, Gersch scoffed at the State's claim that Act 18 enhances the integrity of the voting process.

He stated the evidence the Plaintiffs will present will show "those lofty goals are a pretext." He went on to say, "Common sense says this law [was passed] for partisan advantage." The Judge expects the hearing to last eight days, and acknowledged that his Courtroom is only a stop in the judicial proceedings on this matter as he expects it to reach the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. "The really smart people will make the final decision in this case."---Tara Leo Auchey