PA GOP applauds Supreme Court ruling on Voter ID

Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. supports the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling Monday that upheld the Constitutional right of states to require voters to produce photo identification before casting their ballot to combat voter fraud and uphold the integrity of our elections.

"The Republican Party of Pennsylvania was ecstatic to learn of the Supreme Court's ruling that allows states to run fair and honest elections by using photo identification," Gleason said in a written statement. "Ensuring the integrity of our elections is paramount, and I believe requiring voters to show a form of identification is an important tool in combating voter fraud. Many Americans are made to show photo identification before they board a plane, drive a car, cash a check, or even rent a movie, so we agree with the Supreme Court that it is acceptable to check identification before they cast their vote."

In 2006, Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed House bill 1318 that would have required voters to produce photo identification here in the Commonwealth. Under this bill, voters would have had to produce either a driver's license, passport or other photo ID or even something with the person's name on it, such as a utility bill.

"If Pennsylvania is serious about conducting fair elections, our legislature should pass a bill requiring voters to show photo identification and Gov. Rendell should sign it immediately," Gleason said.