>>>>That all makes sense on a logical level. It's also clear that voter ID is aimed at people who are likely to vote for Democrats.
>>>
>>>I can't think of a single reason why every voter shouldn't be required to present a photo ID when voting. It's important to disregard what group this might affect and evaluate the rule on it's own; it's a pretty damn low bar.
>>
>>Because many of them don't have such an ID (turns out about 10% of PA voters have neither a drivers license nor the state-provided non-drivers photo ID). Getting such an ID can be expensive (both in actual costs and in work hours lost), difficult and time-consuming.
>
>I don't think claiming expense is a viable roadblock to obtaining an ID.
>http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverlicensephotoidcenter/obtainingphotoid.shtml
>
>A couple minutes to fill out the form
>A $13.50 fee.
>Schedule DMV appt so you don't waste time in the office.
>Hand over form & fee, show SS card, quick photo, in & out during lunch hour so no missed work.
>

Well, you've left out the expense of getting an acceptable ID such as a birth certificate, if you don't already have one.

Also, to the best of my knowledge, PA doesn't make appointments for this stuff. You walk in, take a number and wait your turn.

More to the point, doing this on your lunch hour only works if there's a center close enough to your work to do that. And, of course, if you don't drive (which is true for the people we're talking about), it has to be walking distance or you have to get someone to drive you or there has to be public transit.

Tamar