The Department of State has relaunched its controversial advertising campaign to educate voters about the yet-to-be-implemented voter ID law. Only this time, Pennsylvania taxpayers are footing the bill and some lawmakers are not happy about it. The $1 million “Show it” ad campaign is airing statewide on TV, radio and Internet with some targeted ads to Hispanic TV and radio and black radio and some print ads in Spanish language, and other non-English newspapers, said Department of State spokesman Ron Ruman. The funding was part of the 2013-2014 state budget, he said. Some opponents of the law called on Secretary of State Carol Aichele to pull the “misleading” ads. “If one individual is under the impression that they will not be permitted to vote without a photo ID and stays home on November 5, that is one person too many,” said Sen. Matt Smith (D., Allegheny). In a letter to Aichele, Smith called the department’s action “troubling” and “confusing” and suggested that the money instead go toward advertisements that detail where and how voters can obtain free photo identification — without mentioning identification requirements.
“As we wait for the Commonwealth Court to issue a decision on the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law, a better use of taxpayer dollars would be to educate all Pennsylvanians on how they can obtain a valid photo ID without the implication of a law that is not currently – and may never be – in effect,” Smith said.
Smith also said taxpayer funds should not be used until there is a “clear and final decision” by the court on its constitutionality. “I’m disappointed that the department isn’t putting scarce state dollars to better use,” he said.
Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), who is running for Congress, said it was just the latest effort by the Corbett administration to suppress the Democratic vote.
“When speaking of voter turnout in Philadelphia he urged his supporters to “keep it down.” When trying to rig the Electoral College he complained that voters in Philadelphia had “too much influence” in elections, and he supported among the most aggressive voter-suppression bills in the nation,” Leach said. “So we should be saddened, but not surprised when we see the administration continue to try to scare people who don’t vote the right way from voting.”
Full Article: PA voter ID ad campaign is back, Dems say it’s misleading.