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Civil rights attorney and Advancement Project Co-Director Penda Hair discusses the latest developments in the court battle over Pennsylvania’s voter...
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Let's -- a voter ID case taking place of Pennsylvania right now.
The advancement project filed a lawsuit along with the ACLU handed the hair is co director of the advancement project.
And former director of elected in DC office of the NAACP.
Legal defense and education fund thank you very much depend upon our program tonight.
I'm happy yeah -- -- status of the Pennsylvania case right now.
They came to open day two of the -- at all.
And we are putting really really John McCain telling the story of voters -- cannot give PIP that we really restrictive.
Photo ID -- is used to -- dot -- -- must not be expired meant to have an expiration date.
Where your name must match your voter registration record.
We have millions of voters he cannot get that idea or do you know her.
Typically the argument on the other side would be -- what's -- and Friday the problem is it's not just at any ID will do.
-- it most states require some form -- But what Pennsylvania has and admittedly.
For purely partisan purposes to help Mitt Romney win the day they're legislature but it land the group.
Probably the most restrictive.
Photo ID requirement in the country and certainly the land that right now is threatening the largest number of voters that night that our expert testified today at trial.
And he found they've done.
Dealing statistical analysis bad to more than a million something between one point two at one point five million eligible Pennsylvania voters.
Do not currently have this idea and many of them are not able to get it because they -- -- birth certificate.
You hear any sort of had 92 year old people for example who voted every election suddenly they can vote the Pennsylvania Republican House leader Mike -- I actually admitted.
This is -- helping to.
Do like Mitt Romney here's what -- -- voter ID which is gonna allow governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania done.
Admitted that's what it's about.
Absolutely I mean that must have been an unguarded moment -- -- We suspected that part of the motive and impact we had seen that pattern of these ID proposals.
Popping up in and they were almost identical in two states that are considered battleground states and the states where.
That Republicans control the legislature fortunately and number of states they would because by Republican and democratic governors.
But Pennsylvania.
Into that -- thing that as did with cap and tax that man.
The Pennsylvania case I think will be a really compelling.
Actual presentation -- the problems with what Pennsylvania has.
Here's a -- moment there today Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett.
Was asked by a reporter about voter ID he couldn't remember the legislation that he actually sign and what was actually needed here's what he said.
Can be military ideas.
It's.
We have it was really -- -- hadn't figured things.
He's that was governor who supported and signed the bill.
Yeah -- didn't.
I mean that they.
As that of Blase attitude toward taking LA that precious right that.
People for example one of -- -- yesterday.
Honorably discharged -- wean.
Served our country vote in election after Election -- he doesn't have a birth certificate and doesn't patent doesn't drive in -- on disability now.
And that's the kind of story that we're -- in this trial that has.
Even though you know many many people do you have by being carried around and they allow it.
There isn't my idea roughly ten to 15% of the American citizens eligible he did have the -- And we want the judge and we let the American people to walk in there she is an -- that you really wanted to regulate the right to vote -- has.
You don't have your birth certificate you don't have -- -- security cards your name has been changed he'd been adopted.
There's just many many reasons why millions of people might not have the idea that that's been that are pretty routine.
And the hair is co director of the events -- project part of the case with the ACLU it in Pennsylvania.
The Brennan center at NYU as I'm sure you know distant cities and discovered that there is in fact.
Not much voter fraud going on in this country they are addressing a problem that doesn't exist.
Yeah I mean that's why we know what the real motive is that -- -- motivated to disenfranchise.
The voters and that made -- that -- and and part of that and likely partisan voting pattern.
-- -- They've come up with just the reason after reason that has been proven not to be true and second Pennsylvania.
After we went through that period of discovery and put that date we got them to the point where they admitted they -- they don't know -- they're not gonna put on any evidence of pride they don't know one thing no evidence that went single example of fraud and I just gave him that they.
Another thing to do in the same thing as Pennsylvania Bellwether in terms what other states might do and -- I might react to similar suits going on.
I think I think that this tape is going to be those and that it -- gonna -- a very powerful opinion.
And I hope that both other states and the American -- We'll understand what's at stake with the president's right to vote and that it should -- should not be put up.
Now I understand your your basing your case on the Pennsylvania constitution.
Is that you rather than federal law.
Yet we indicted in this case to pursue.
A state -- claim.
But because.
Pennsylvania has been very strong protection of the rights of it in its state constitution.
And we felt that that was.
Bad.
Effort and as obtaining an injunction against the -- before the November election.
-- other states have similar constitutions.
-- that tactic would work equally well elsewhere.
Yeah we're out there a couple of states have already used similar provisions to strike down these ideas notably Missouri was the first and then actually a very very similar -- was was just passed in Wisconsin last year and their two state court injunctions against that law right now.
And there there are other states that have similar language and I think that this would be a very style president wants the court -- in this case.
-- is ambivalent you know there's so we're at 8774.
-- 87736725.
26 -- -- -- -- rob in San Jose with panda hair go Fedorov.
He doesn't blow like that that example that this -- given about that the blame them you -- counts are here to go ahead.
Our the the marine example I'm a few of the -- -- have military ID which is a lot of -- like it's accepted.
What.
My understanding is that you have I think you you have a military ID when you are in the military but if you are Andy and veterans your veteran the doesn't -- -- -- doesn't have the it doesn't meet on the narrow requirements that Pennsylvania lines inserted.
So that there's if you believe that he would work would -- be okay what.
Well what you want to thank -- I -- that it that would be with the that we deal with one million people and that is human and as a.
-- -- letter answer the question sir that are splitter finishers of.
I mean that is Q is it is there and need to make it harder to vote or should we be making it easier to.
But we have might that I believe -- over seventy million people who are eligible to vote in this country and are not registered to vote.
And then we have one of the lowest.
Participates in voting participation rates of any modern democracy so.
I don't think we need to add they are -- than just the case.
Perimeter -- -- came out today that 43%.
Of Pennsylvania and don't have the proper ID is that simply to pretty on them.
Yes I have I haven't had a chance public -- that data behind that number.
We we know that a lot of voters in Pennsylvania down I mean in Philadelphia -- that was for Philadelphia don't have VIP.
I think it.
We don't have a particular Philadelphia with that understanding can.
-- that's -- them you know you're right Philadelphia.
Yet.
And -- and that that into account both people who are registered voters now or you're eligible but -- registered now and though I haven't checked those numbers it -- -- based on what we've seen it not that question about the right number.
Do you think this case -- wrap up and come to conclusion.
We understand that the trial be over and next -- and that court has indicated it hopes to reach a decision by mid August.
Well obviously.
They want -- decision.
In time for the election.
-- -- and it will be stalling tactics to try to stop.
Closure or prevent collisions happening to stop people voting between now and November.
Well -- he.
I can't predict what -- state -- do I think that the courts are planning committed expeditiously and I doubt that any -- technique would work.
Well -- and I wonder how many other states to get this wrapped up -- and -- as many people as -- to vote between now and November.
I mean I think Pennsylvania is is -- -- the state most at risk right now because the other states have.
Already entered injunctions against.
Currently held several other states -- variety entered into it and -- -- these these but these two really really picked it ID requirement.
And then -- Department of Justice has objected and temporarily at least halted taxes and South Carolina from eating there ID requirements and those are are -- in port.
But right man up his clothing is is that maintain state that doesn't have any court board -- injunction against its voter ID.
I count it as we appreciate your dog deuce and I ma'am thank you so much for your time yet I'm happy it --
