A Pennsylvania judge declined to grant an injunction Wednesday, clearing the way for the state's new law, requiring each voter to produce some form of government-issued photo identification in order to cast a ballot, to go into effect for November's election.

According to the Associated Press, Judge Robert Simpson rejected claims that the new law is unconstitutional, referring to it as basically another tool poll workers could use to verify the identities of voters. The law, authored by Republicans, is opposed by Democrats who allege that it will make it harder for groups like college students, elderly and low-income Americans to vote.

Supporters of voter identification laws claim they are necessary to prevent fraud, but actual examples of such impersonations were absent in both the case and Simpson's 70-page opinion.

To help alleviate some concerns, Pennsylvania is planning a public relations campaign to get the word out about the new law, and also offering no-cost non-driver photo IDs as well as a special photo ID card for those who cannot get one through the state's transportation department for whatever reason. This is unlikely to satisfy critics of the law who argue it was a political maneuver that effectively targeted groups that tend to vote Democratic, and even if applied in an even-handed fashion, will have an impact on the election.

The American Civil Liberties Union is already planning an appeal, and the Department of Justice has also decided to do its own examination of the law.

 

Reach Executive Producer Matt Pressberg here.