State Simplifies Voter ID Process

The state has a simplified process for many voters, especially senior citizens with expired driver’s licenses, to obtain a non-driver license photo ID if they need one to vote under Pennsylvania’s new Voter ID law, according to a release.

“If you had a Pennsylvania driver’s license, or a non-driver license photo ID, in most cases you will not be required to bring a birth certificate, or any other proof of identification or residence, to request a non-driver photo ID for voting purposes,” Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele said.

“You won’t even need your expired license if you no longer have it,” she added. “You’ll only need to give your name at a PennDOT driver license center, and once you are verified as being in the system, PennDOT will provide you with a non-driver license photo ID, which you can use to vote.”

For licenses that expired prior to 1990, call PennDOT’s Customer Care Center, at 1-800-932-4600, to verify that your information is still in the system.

Starting with the November election, all photo IDs must be current and contain an expiration date, unless otherwise noted.

Acceptable IDs include:

• Photo IDs issued by the U.S. federal government or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania driver’s license or non-driver’s license photo ID
• Valid U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID - active duty and retired military
• Military dependents’ ID
• Employee photo ID issued by federal or Pa. state, county or municipal government
• Photo ID cards from an accredited public or private Pennsylvania college or university
• Photo ID cards issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences or personal care homes.

“No one legally entitled to vote will be denied that right,” Aichele said. “If a voter does not have a photo ID at the polls this November, he or she may vote with a provisional ballot, and will then have six days to provide a photo ID to the county election office.”

This ID may be provided in person, by mail, e-mail, or fax.

Pennsylvania voters will be asked to show photo ID at the polls in the April 24 primary election, but will not be required to produce the photo ID until November’s general election. Voters not having an acceptable ID will be given a handout by poll workers, listing the acceptable IDs and where to get more information.

Current election law, remaining in effect for the primary, requires first-time voters and people voting for the first time at a new polling place to show ID, though it need not be a photo ID. Acceptable ID for first-time voters for this primary election can be a photo ID, or a proof of residence, such as a tax or utility bill.

For more information on the Voter ID law, or to find out where to get a photo ID and what documents you need to get a photo ID, visit www.VotesPA.com, or call 1- 877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).