Confusion discourages voters

Just as the rally to protest the state’s voter ID Law that has been wending its way through the courts was about to get underway, Allentown NAACP executive Linda Renick got the word over her cellphone that Governor Tom Corbett had withdrawn the state’s appeal of Pennsylvania’s voter ID law. This might have been the occasion for jubilation among the small group assembled—there were no regular citizens attending the May 8 rally on Payrow Plaza at the intersection of North New Street and East Church Street at Bethlehem City Hall. Pedestrian traffic was sparse and none stopped to hear what was going on. Motorcycles and buses occasionally drowned out the speaker’s voices. But Renick’s news brought only smiles from rally leaders; no congratulatory hugs or hi-fives. Buried in the news of a tactical victory was the strategic intent of the Governor and the Republican Pennsylvania state legislature to rewrite the law to get around Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley’s objections. McGinley issued an order on January 17, 2014 permanently blocking the controversial photo identification law; Corbitt dropped the state’s appeal of that decision citing the expense of continuing. Corbitt reportedly said he would work with the legislature to develop a law that would survive legal challenges. At the beginning of Pennsylvania’s defense of PA’s voter ID law (which proponents touted as necessary to prevent voter fraud) the state stipulated or admitted that it had no specific cases of voter fraud to bring before the court. At least one Democratic political leader was quick to support Corbitt’s decision. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) said, “I’m pleased that Governor Corbett has agreed to forego further appeals of the current Voter ID proposal. I called on Governor Corbett to drop his Administration’s appeal because implementing this law would have prevented eligible Pennsylvanians from exercising their right to vote. Make no mistake, Voter ID cannot be retooled or tweaked in a way that would make it fair to those who would be denied access to the ballot. Voter ID is a scheme whose very premise is flawed.” National Republican leaders kept quiet about the decision. Neither Representative Charlie Dent’s (R- PA) nor Senator Pat Toomey’s (R-PA) website’s had statements as of May 11 regarding Corbett’s decision to drop the appeal the law. The attendees were mostly from the Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP led by Esther Lee and from the Allentown Chapter of the NAACP led by Dan Bosket with a few people from Lepoco (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern) Peace Center and other supporters. Walt Garvin the Chair of the Northampton County Democratic Committee also attended. “Confusion discourages voters,” said Nancy Tate of Lepoco. “Our country cries out for more justice and more access for all citizens in the election and governing process. We cannot abide the cynicism, distortions, and chicanery that result when dollars and those who toss around millions, have so much more power to determine the outcome of elections than do average people.” Tate also decried the gerrymandering that carves out political bases that effectively guarantee that incumbent politicians stay in office. “Locally, we know all too well how voting districts are distorted by gerrymandering,” she said. For example, U. S. Representative Charlie Dent’s (R-PA) 15th Congressional District stretches in long line along I-78 from Hersey near Harrisburg to the Delaware River south of Easton.