Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) said on Thursday he will not appeal the a state judge’s decision striking down a law that required state residents to show photo identification in order to vote, the Associated Press reported.
While Corbett said he would not challenge the decision on the Pennsylvania law in its current form, he defended voter ID laws in general.
“Based upon the court’s opinion, it is clear that the requirement of photo identification is constitutionally permissible. However, the court also made clear that in order for a voter identification law to be found constitutional, changes must be made to address accessibility to photo identifications,” Corbett said in a statement.
“A photo identification requirement is a sensible and reasonable measure for the Commonwealth to reassure the public that everyone who votes is registered and eligible to cast a ballot,” he continued. “The Administration will work with the General Assembly to address these issues. However, through the current legislative term, we must remain focused on passing a balanced budget and addressing ongoing legislative priorities.”
The Justice Department launched an investigation into Pennsylvania’s voter ID law in 2012 to determine whether the legislation discriminated against minority voters. The probe was the first of its kind in a state not covered in Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which was struck down in 2013.
This the first time Corbett has made the right decision.
It’s clear that he knows he’s not likely to be re-elected regardless of whether the law is in effect or not, and that may have had an effect on his decision.
Corbett is one of the least popular governors in the US—and for good reason. He’s done an execrable job, and has damaged Pennsylvania in many ways.
Someonde is trying to save his job. Too little too late.
Corbett has finally realized that when you’re already in a hole, you should stop digging. Mind you, he’s about five feet deep at this point…
Just speculating but I’ve seen evidence here in PA that women, seniors and minorities were mobilizing against this with voter education efforts and drives to get everyone ID. People don’t like blatant efforts to disenfranchise them and this could well have backfired here. I don’t know if that was a factor but I did see the effort to fight it starting.
Name me a Republican elected governor in 2010 that you couldn’t say that about–Brownback, McCrory, Kasich, Snyder, Lex Luthor down in Florida. They’ve all made themselves about as welcome as a dose of the clap.