In March 2012, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed Act 18 "Voter ID" into law thereby requiring voters to show proper ID before casting a ballot.

In response to the new law, the ACLU of Pennsylvania filed a legal challenge asking for injunctive relief. With that move, the issue headed to Commonwealth Court.

On July 25, 2012, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson began the hearing. Plaintiffs argued the law is unconstitutional, and the State argued it upholds the integrity of the voting process. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Simpson ruled in favor of the State. The case went to the Supreme Court of PA, and the higher court sent it back to the Commonwealth Court judge to revisit his opinion and present further clarification.

Two more days of testimony occurred then on October 2nd, Judge Simpson issued a ruling stating that the Voter ID Law would not go into effect for the November election, but rather, could be implemented in 2013. Thus, Pennsylvania voters were not required to provide identification at polls on November 6th.

In defense of the law, PA House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R) said, "It's a measure that's designed to provide some common sense." His colleague on the other side of the aisle Senator Vincent Hughes proclaimed, "This decision goes in the direction to disenfranchise potentially hundreds of of thousands of Pennsylvania citizens."

by Tara Leo Auchey

photos by Natalie Cake