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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2009
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Senator Orie Introduces Legislation to Protect Against Voter Fraud

Seeking to reduce cases of voter fraud and abuse, Senator Jane Orie (R-40) has introduced legislation to require voters to show photo identification before they cast their ballots.

"Voting is one of our most basic rights -- and one that people have fought and died to protect," Orie said. "However, cases of election fraud and abuse have been reported because it is relative easy to walk into a polling place and cast a ballot using someone else's name and voting information.  My legislation is a very simple and basic protection to ensure that elections are conducted fairly."

The federal Help America Vote Act requires a photo ID when a person votes in a municipality for the first time.  Twenty-four states have broader voter identification requirements than the HAVA mandates.  In these states, all voters are asked to show identification prior to voting.  Six of these states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other eighteen states accept additional forms of identification. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Indiana's voter identification requirement.

Orie's proposal would amend the Pennsylvania Election Code to require electors identify themselves each time they vote, with either a currently valid and reliable picture ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or a combination of two documents, one of which contains a photo, and the other of which has on it the elector's name and current residential address.

"This would not pose a major inconvenience to voters, since most adults carry one form of photo identification or another, Orie said. "And this safeguard would help to protect the voting process and ensure that elections are conducted fairly. 

Senate Bill 514 has been introduced and referred to the Senate State Government Committee for its consideration.

Contact:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-6538