Amish voters in Pennsylvania would be included in a requirement to show government-issued identification in each election under legislation approved by the state House last week, but they could get an exemption from the requirement for a photo on the ID card.
Lawmakers said that Plain sect voters would be able to get a religious exemption from the provision requiring a photograph on identification cards.
But to do so, they would have to clear more regulatory hurdles than the average voter, because getting such a card involves providing the state Department of Transportation with a statement of their beliefs signed by their church district’s bishop.
PennDOT would check the bishop’s name in its records and then issue a non-photo ID.
“It’s actually harder to get that ID than just a driver’s license,” said Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester, who wrote the bill’s exemption provisions. “They have to show a state-issued ID just like other voters. They’re not getting a pass.”
Full Article: TriValley Central.