With just weeks until the April 24 Primary
Election, Delaware County Council and county election officials want to educate
residents about the new voter ID law, which takes effect in November in Pennsylvania.

Even though the law doesn’t go into effect
until the Nov. 6 General Election, voters will be asked to show photo ID at the
polling place on April 24 as part of a “soft rollout” of the new requirement.

Poll workers will be required to request ID
in the Primary Election, but voters can still vote a regular ballot if they do
not have photo ID. The Department of State (DOS) requires that all poll workers
across the Commonwealth present voters with a half-page handout detailing
information on the ID requirement.

“This is a significant change in the way that people vote in
Pennsylvania and it is our goal to ensure that the voting process is accessible
and open to all registered voters,” said County Councilman David White,
Council’s liaison to the Election Bureau and Voter Registration.

“In talking to residents, we recognize that
people have questions and we want to be sure that people have the correct
information on what constitutes acceptable photo ID, how they obtain a photo ID
and how that impacts people who vote by absentee ballot,” White said.

“Keep in mind that this takes effect in
November. Come November, all voters will be required to show a photo ID. On
April 24, voters will simply be asked to show photo ID,” White said.

On
March 15, Pennsylvania became the 16^th state in the nation to
require voters to show photo identification at the polls, starting with the
November general election.

To prepare voters for the new requirement,
the DOS is having the “soft rollout” to help with the transition.

Types of acceptable ID must include the
person’s name, photograph and an expiration date. This includes a Pa. driver’
license, PennDOT photo ID cards, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, an ID from an
accredited public or private college or university, employee photo ID issued by
a government entity, and an ID cards issued by a Pennsylvania care facility or
assisted living residents. Note these are only acceptable if they have an
expiration date printed on the ID.

Photo ID is provided by PennDOT for voting
purposes if a voter doesn’t already have one. Voters must complete an
application plus, to be eligible for a free photo ID, people must complete an
affirmation form stating that they do not have a valid ID form and need one for
voting purposes.

“After the Primary Election, we will conduct
outreach to senior centers and through our libraries and human service agencies
to ensure that people are informed and can access the necessary
identification,” White said. “We don’t want anyone to forgo their right to vote
because they can’t access a photo ID.”

Councilman White said senior citizens have
already called the Voter Registration department asking about the new law. Many
questions are about absentee ballots. There will be new identification
requirements for absentee ballots as of November.

Under the new law, voters must provide their
driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number
or a copy of an accepted photo ID when applying for an absentee ballot. Voters
may provide the identifying information to the county over the phone, by email
or mail.

“Our goal is to make this a smooth transition
for voters. We are ready to help with your questions,” White said.

White said information on the new
requirements is available on the County website at www.co.delaware.pa.us. People can call
1-877-VotesPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit www.VotesPA.com.

In other states, the voter ID laws have been
facing legal challenges, so it’s important for voters to stay informed
throughout the election cycle.