Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley on Friday threw out key provisions of a voter identification law that had required nearly all Pennsylvania voters to show a certain form of photo identification before they can cast a ballot. Some quotes from the judge’s ruling and reaction:
“The burdens the Voter ID Law entails are unnecessary and not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling governmental interest. And the record is rife with testimony from numerous Pennsylvania voters whose right to vote will be - and indeed already has been - denied or substantially and unnecessarily burdened by the Voter ID Law.” - Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley.
“In the full trial on the merits, (the state’s lawyers) again wholly failed to show any evidence of in-person voter fraud.” - Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley.
“The right to vote is a basic right guaranteed in the Pennsylvania Constitution. The governor and his Republican leadership attempted to make it much harder for people to exercise this right. The court acted decisively to protect the basic right to vote.” - Pennsylvania House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny.
“We disagree with the judge’s ruling. By the reasoning in that opinion, people who apply for a passport, want to board an airplane, want to hunt or fish or even see their kids in school are having an undue burden placed on them because you need photo identification.” - Stephen Miskin, spokesman, Pennsylvania House Speaker Sam Smith, R-Jefferson.
“Implementing voter ID would prevent tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians from exercising their right to vote, including elderly Pennsylvanians who’ve fought in our wars and worked to make our country safe. Voter ID is crumbling under the weight of its own faulty premises and misguided reasoning.” - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
“While I am extremely disappointed with today’s decision, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania will continue to serve as a leading advocate for policies that ensure a fair right to vote for all Pennsylvanians.” - Rob Gleason, chairman, Pennsylvania Republican Party.
“It was clear from the introduction of this bill that voter ID was simply a blatant, political scheme designed to confuse and disenfranchise Pennsylvania voters.” - Jim Burn, chairman, Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
“The law was passed by the Legislature, signed by the governor and the attorney general and Office of General Counsel worked to defend the law. We’ll continue to do so, but making our judgment as to whether we go to the next step, we have to review the opinion.” - James D. Schultz, general counsel, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett.
“I respect Judge McGinley’s very thoughtful decision in this matter. The Office of Attorney General will continue to defend the rights of all Pennsylvanians, and we will work with all related Commonwealth agencies to carry out this decision and ensure that all voters have access to free and fair elections.” - Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
“As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. this week and next, this serves as a reminder that the movement is not over and the battle can be won.” - Jerry Mondesire, president, NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference.
“(It was) an activist ruling by a partisan Democrat judge. He’s making arguments for the left in rejecting this.” - Pennsylvania House Rep. Daryl D. Metcalfe, R-Butler, sponsor of the bill.
“If upheld, this law would have had catastrophic consequences throughout the entire state by undermining access to the ballot.” - Susan J. Carty, president, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
“This ruling is a monumental victory for those who believe that in a democracy, elections should be free, fair and accessible to all people.” - Penda D. Hair, co-director, Advancement Project.
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