Voter Registration Concerns Grow
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: November 6, 2012
HOLLIDAYSBURG, BLAIR COUNTY - Voters in Pennsylvania have just less than one month to make sure they are properly registered for this year's general election.
With Pennsylvania's new voter ID law now on the books, some election officials say there could be a problem with how voters are listed. That is because poll workers will be required to compare the voter rolls with approved photo identification this November that some additional voter issues are coming to the attention of local election officials.
Members of the Blair county board of elections were told on Tuesday morning that the County's election workers are all getting the training and information they need to comply with the state's new voter ID law. But there is concern about a large group of voters who may have their names improperly listed on county voter rolls. The concern is for women who have changed their name due to marriage or divorce. They may have corrected those changes with their driver's license, but they have not updated their voter registration record with County Officials.
If the name in the poll book and the name on the voter's identification card don't match, it could require the voter to cast a provisional ballot. That would mean that the voter would have just six days after the election to produce an accurate identification.
The County Solicitor says he is concerned that some people are going to lose track of time or forget to follow up after casting a provisional ballot and their vote is not going to count. Attorney Nathan Karn says now is the time for voters to get a state approved ID if they don't have one and make sure that they take it with them on election day.
The deadline for making any changes to a voter's registration is October 9th. If the name or address on the voter's identification conflicts with the information contained on the County's voter rolls, it could slow down the process of casting a ballot for both the voter and poll workers at a time when lines are already expected at many polls.
With Pennsylvania's new voter ID law now on the books, some election officials say there could be a problem with how voters are listed. That is because poll workers will be required to compare the voter rolls with approved photo identification this November that some additional voter issues are coming to the attention of local election officials.
Members of the Blair county board of elections were told on Tuesday morning that the County's election workers are all getting the training and information they need to comply with the state's new voter ID law. But there is concern about a large group of voters who may have their names improperly listed on county voter rolls. The concern is for women who have changed their name due to marriage or divorce. They may have corrected those changes with their driver's license, but they have not updated their voter registration record with County Officials.
If the name in the poll book and the name on the voter's identification card don't match, it could require the voter to cast a provisional ballot. That would mean that the voter would have just six days after the election to produce an accurate identification.
The County Solicitor says he is concerned that some people are going to lose track of time or forget to follow up after casting a provisional ballot and their vote is not going to count. Attorney Nathan Karn says now is the time for voters to get a state approved ID if they don't have one and make sure that they take it with them on election day.
The deadline for making any changes to a voter's registration is October 9th. If the name or address on the voter's identification conflicts with the information contained on the County's voter rolls, it could slow down the process of casting a ballot for both the voter and poll workers at a time when lines are already expected at many polls.
Comments
Frankly, if you're too stupid to have your name corrected when you change it, you're probably too stupid to vote.
FREDRICK F.
September 12, 2012 at 5:49 pm
