Maybe we need to start ID drives similar to voter registration drives.

for the upcoming election....many voters may not know about this, and they may not have photo ID in time to vote. This would be a good way to educate people on this new law, and that will have to include voters.

I read that the poll workers will be trained to ask for ID for the primary, even though it is not required yet, just to educate people prior to the general election----but I am curious if they will do this, or if they may "forget" to ask some people. There are also too many people who do not vote in primaries, but show up for the general election---so they will not be made aware that they must have ID when they vote.

Please, everyone, make this a primary point during voter drives.

We should actually drive them to the DMV or whatever is required.

so they could get ID. In PA, the cost of a certified copy is $10, money that would be better spent on food and/or shelter. Most of those disenfranchised by photo ID laws are native born citizens; naturalized citizens can easily present a naturalization certificate to get ID.

Info about PA birth certificates: http://www.portal.health.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/birth_certificates/14121

that I don't even recall what the requirements were, and they may have changed since then. Is a birth certificate required now?

I think the bill also accepts federal photo IDs (correct me if I'm wrong), so I suppose that a passport would work.

So which is easier and cheaper to get, a driver's license (or state photo ID) or a passport?

A passport, AFAIK, costs $140 plus a $25 "execution fee." Here's the skinny: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html

Here's the web site for the steps to get your PA ID card: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/licensing_master/identity.shtml. Photo ID is $15, a poll tax if you ask me.

Returning to the subject of obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate, if you order online, you may have to pay $15 in shipping and $8.35 (?) in handling fees, but your credit or debit card with your name on it constitutes proof of identity.

I think this bill provides for a free state issued photo ID. I don't know what documentation is required to get one.

The newspaper reports say that Pa. will start to pay for the photo IDs for people who do not have a driver's license. Therefore, that fee will disappear. There are a couple other forms of photo ID that will also count, such as an in-state current college photo ID.

There is at least one or two drivers license photo ID centers for each county. That is also where you get the non-driver ID. They are run by contractors.

The big cost and hassle will apparently be to get a birth certificate.

To answer a question above, when a person gets a driver's license today in Pa., they need to show an original birth certificate. That was required to make it harder for illegal residents to get PA. drivers licenses.

Some of the federal IDs (such as VA) apparently don't have an address, which may not be sufficient. A WWII combat vet was turned away from voting in Indiana because his VA ID didn't have his current address.

This is fucking ridiculous and un-American. Assholes.