Should Pennsylvania join 36 other states that require voters to show identification in order to vote?
State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery/Berks) thinks so.
Pennycuick is introducing legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to enhance Pennsylvania’s election security by requiring voters to present photo identification when voting in person.
Voter ID requirements are common throughout the country. Pennsylvania is among the 14 states that do not mandate any documentation in order to vote. A strict voter ID law was enacted in 2012, but the state Supreme Court struck it down, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Only first-time voters must provide documentation, either photo or non-photo identification, says the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Not good enough, says Pennycuick.
“As a constitutional amendment, it’s the people of Pennsylvania who are going to decide if voter ID is an important component of our election system,” said Pennycuick. “Voters support this commonsense requirement, IDs are not difficult to obtain, and there is no evidence requiring an ID when voting in person negatively affects turnout.”
Requiring voter ID receives wide-ranging support in Pennsylvania. A June 2021 poll from Franklin and Marshall College found 74 percent of respondents, including 77 percent of independents, favor identification requirements.
Democrats in the state House, however, oppose an ID mandate.
“Any attempt to disenfranchise voters through a constitutional amendment is a non-starter for House Democrats,” said Elizabeth Rementer, press secretary for House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) in a statement last year.
Voter ID laws stop multiple types of fraud, such as impersonating another registered voter, preventing noncitizens from voting, and stopping out-of-state residents or someone registered in multiple jurisdictions.
While many people scoff at voter fraud, in January, a federal judge sentenced a 62-year-old Huntington Valley man to probation and fines after he was caught registering to vote in Montgomery County, Philadelphia, and Florida.
In December, Delaware County authorities arrested a woman who was part of the New Pennsylvania Project, charging her with forgery, tampering with public records, and knowingly registering voters who were not eligible.
“Requiring valid ID to vote provides a commonsense security measure to assure that voters cast their own ballots. In Pennsylvania, enshrining it in our constitution is one of many election integrity safeguards that we need. While the majority of Pennsylvanians support voter ID requirements, I have no doubt the Left will launch an all-out assault against these reforms,” said Linda Kerns, a Republican election lawyer based in Philadelphia.
Kerns was among the RNC lawyers who were actively preventing voter fraud and other issues during the 2024 election. Republicans had to go to court to force Democratic elected officials in Bucks and Montgomery Counties to follow state law regarding undated mail-in ballots.
Constitutional amendments must pass both the House and Senate in two consecutive legislative sessions to be placed on the ballot.
“We are pleased to see growing support, with more sponsors joining the effort each day. We are also carefully gathering feedback from stakeholders. As the language has not yet been introduced, we have not received any clear opposition at this time,” said Pennycuick spokesman Matt Szuchyt.
