A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday delayed full implementation of a highly contested state law requiring strict photographic identification to vote in next month’s election, saying that the authorities had not done enough to ensure that potential voters had access to the new documents.
The judge, Robert Simpson, who upheld the law in August when it was
challenged by liberal and civil rights groups, was instructed by the
state’s Supreme Court two weeks ago to hold further hearings. He was
told to focus on the question of whether enough had been done to ensure “liberal access” to the picture ID cards or alternatives.
Judge Simpson said in his Tuesday ruling that for the presidential
election of Nov. 6, voters in Pennsylvania could be asked to produce the
newly required photo IDs, but if they did not have them could still go
ahead and vote. The decision could still be appealed to the state
Supreme Court.
