Judge keeps voter ID ads in place

Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson has denied an attempt by voter ID opponents to stop the Corbett administration's advertising and promotion of the suspended requirements before Election Day.

In an Oct. 2 decision Simpson suspended requirements that all Pennsylvania voters show photo ID Nov. 6 but kept them in place for future balloting. The Department of State has kept advertising in place on voter ID saying voters will be asked, but not forced, to show ID next week and opponents sought a new order from Simpson to block the promotional campaigns.

Simpson denied it today. His opinion said the opponents did not prove the advertisements would disenfranchise voters and beyond that said the court could do little to enforce such an order. "Petitioners' invitation to manage the conspicuity and comparability of disclaimers in all Commonwealth broadcast, print, electronic, Internet or other advertisements, displays and robocalls leading up to Election Day contemplates an endeavor for which courts are ill-suited," he wrote.