ACLU, State File Final Briefs Ahead Of Pa. Voter ID Law Trial

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The trial over Pennsylvania's voter ID law begins next week and ACLU and the Commonwealth submitted their final court papers laying out arguments for and against the law.

In its 30-page brief, the ACLU claims the law is unconstitutional because more than a million Pennsylvanians will be turned away at the polls this November in what it calls a partisan attempt to give Republicans the political advantage.  The group, which represents 10 voters, hammers the state over the law's rationale, citing to the lack of evidence of voter fraud in the state.

Vic Walczak, Legal Director, ACLU of Pennsylvania, told KYW Newsradio earlier this month, "All of these facts raise the question, why are they fighting for this law?  Was Mike Turzai on to something when he said this is really about suppressing the vote?"

The Commonwealth argues that the ACLU's burden to overturn the law is heavy and that, even though there is no documented evidence of fraud, lawmakers have the power to regulate elections.  The state's papers also say that no one will be disenfranchised by the new law, since there is more than enough time to get a valid ID before the November election.

According to the documents, the Department of State will begin issuing "DOS voter ID cards" in August with requirements less restrictive than IDs offered by PennDOT.