Lead Plaintiff In Voter ID Lawsuit Speaks Out
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The showdown over Pennsylvania's voter ID law begins this Wednesday in Harrisburg. The ACLU represents 10 voters who say they'll be turned away at the polls in November because they cannot get a photo ID card. KYW Newsradio's Cherri Gregg sat down with the lead plaintiff to find out why it's so hard for her to get one.
Vivette Applewhite, 93, was born and raised in Philadelphia. She was a shipyard welder in Chester during World War II and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in Macon, Georgia. She says she's voted in every election since Kennedy was president, but won't be able to vote this November because she doesn't have proper ID.
"I was in the Acme on Sunday morning and when I got all of my groceries and got up to the counter, my pocketbook was gone."
And with it her ID, official Pennsylvania birth certificate and Social Security card. That was eight years ago. This May, after years of trying, she finally received her birth certificate, but still can't get an ID because of name changes and other red tape.
"I think it's a dirty shame, because I don't think they should have a right to take from me my right to vote," so she's going fight.
"I come from a very strong family, so I'm not afraid. Not at all."
