Voter identification law invasive to longtime resident

North Philadelphia resident Roland Jones does not like the idea of voter ID laws.

Roland Jones, who lives on 18th and West Berks streets, said he has never had to show photo identification in past elections.

However, this November voters in Pennsylvania will be required to present proper photo identification for the presidential election after Gov. Tom Corbett signed House bill 934 on March 14.

“It’s a critical law and it’s going too far,” Jones said.

Jones added that a voter registration card should be “enough” for polls to allow voters to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choosing.

Prior to the recent legislation, only first-time voters [newly registered or change of address] had to present identification to vote on the voting machine. No longer will voters solely be able to show a voter registration card to vote.

“[The law] is borderline invasive I think,” Jones said.

Jones added that senior citizens may be inconvenienced by the voter identification law as they prepare to vote. Some senior citizens may not carry photo identification with them, he said.

“Having lived their entire life in this country [senior citizens] should not have to,” Jones said referring to senior citizens carrying proper photo identification.

The law, which is aimed at preventing voter fraud, requires voters to show one of the following valid forms of identification: driver’s license, state identification card, elderly care identification, passport, student identification card, employee identification card or military identification card. Voters who do fail to show proper identification would be able to vote provisionally, according to Sean Carlin’s March 20 Article  “Campus split on voter ID approval,” p. 1.

“By voting you change these laws,” Jones who plans to vote in November, said. “By casting your vote it empowers you to change stupid and unnecessary laws.”

Connor Showalter can be reached connor.showalter@temple.edu.