By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – There are more developments in the ACLU of Pennsylvania’s lawsuit against the Commonwealth over the new Voter ID law.

A group of about eight voters filed a petition to intervene in the ACLU lawsuit, arguing that their rights will be violated if the law is not in place by November (see related story).

According to the group’s petition, the law safeguards the election process by preventing fraud. But Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson denied the group’s request, ruling that they must have a special reason in order to intervene.

“That [ruling] doesn’t mean they can’t be heard. The typical way for that to happen is for them to file what’s known as friend of the court brief. And of course they can present whatever arguments or claims or policy statements they feel are appropriate,” says ACLU Legal Director, Vic Walczalk.

The ten plaintiffs in ACLU’s case claim they will be unable to vote in November because they cannot obtain the ID required under the new law. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on July 25th.