A state-paid ad campaign to showcase Pennsylvania’s voter photo ID law is generating controversy several weeks before the municipal election. Democratic senators called Wednesday for scrapping the “Show It” campaign, saying it only misleads and confuses voters into believing they need a photo ID to vote in the Nov. 5 election. The ads started airing on TV, radio and the Internet more than one month after a state judge ruled in August that voters won’t need to show photo ID at the polls Nov. 5 while a legal challenge continues to the 2012 law. Poll workers will be able to ask voters to show a photo ID on that day, but they can’t stop someone who lacks one from casting a vote. The ad displays a photo ID with a voice-over saying if you care about the election, then show it. As the ad wraps up, it mentions that no ID is required for this election and provides information about how to obtain a photo ID.
The main thrust of the ad is telling voters to show their photo ID, said Sen. Matt Smith, D-37, McMurray, who authored a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett.
A spokesman for the Department of State said the agency has an obligation to educate voters about a requirement that it thinks will eventually be implemented once the court case is settled. “The ads are there to educate voters,” agency spokesman Ron Ruman said. “We think eventually it’s (law) going to be upheld so we’re educating folks to get an ID.”
Flashing a photo ID during a 30-second ad is misleading, Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, said. “This is just voter suppression,” he said.
Full Article: Voter ID ads draw controversy – News – Republican Herald.