Sunday, October 21, 2012
Poll workers can ask for your photo identification but you still can cast your ballot without it.
One of the provisions of Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson's ruling on the state’s voting law will permit poll workers to ask for photo identification but allows voters to cast a ballot without subsequently having to show their ID. Simpson ruled Oct. 2 that Pennsylvania's tough new Voter ID Law should be put on hold until after the Nov. 6 general election. His decision strikes down two provisions of the law that would have required voters without identification to show their IDs within six days of voting or appear before the county board of elections. The state will still be allowed to educate voters about the new identification requirement. Supporters argue that the law signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March will prevent voter fraud. …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Commonwealth Court judge rules after hearing two days of testimony. An appeal to the state Supreme Court is possible.
A judge ruled today that Pennsylvania's tough new Voter ID Law should be put on hold until after the Nov. 6 general election, according to an Associated Press report. The ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, which said it would expedite any further action in the case since Election Day is just five weeks away. Do you agree with the ruling? Tell us in the comments section below. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson heard two days of testimony last week, as directed by the Supreme Court, to determine whether the state has made it easy enough to get a photo ID in order to vote. Opponents say the law disenfranchises voters—especially the young, poor and elderly, who tend to vote for Democrats. Supporters say the law will …
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The state Supreme Court is pushing the Voter ID law back to Commonwealth Court for further review.
The state Supreme Court is pushing Pennsylvania's new Voter ID law back to Commonwealth Court for further review, multiple news organizations are reporting. A week after hearing oral arguments, the justices voted 4-2 to have the lower court once again review the measures included in the law. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson on Aug. 15 released his decision that parties challenging the Voter ID law were not able to prove it will cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the electorate. However, the justices want the court to reconsider whether there are enough alternative forms of identification allowed by the law so as not to disenfranchise voters, according to PennLive.com. The order from the Supreme Court justices insinuates that …
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Will this decision stick? Both sides had said they would appeal this ruling.
Pennsylvania’s new voter identification law will stand … for now. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson released his decision Wednesday that parties challenging the Voter ID law were not able to prove it will cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the electorate. The challenge to the law was brought by voter advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP. It’s unclear what this decision will actually mean, since both sides had vowed to appeal the judgment if it didn’t go their way. State Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane urged voters not to wait for a possible Supreme Court ruling on the matter if it is appealed. "They should educate themselves (on the proper identification necessary to vote) so there …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Senior Judge Keith B. Quigley has presided over much of the challenge to state Act 13.
In its latest round of court proceedings regarding state Act 13, Cecil Township seeks a familiar man behind the bench. On behalf of the township, attorney John Smith has filed an application asking that Senior Judge Keith B. Quigley be assigned to proceedings brought against Cecil by MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC. MarkWest, citing mounting financial losses, wants the court to pave the way for construction of a natural gas compressor station under the provisions of Act 13, the new state law pertaining to the natural gas industry. Cecil Township, which has denied requests to build the station, is part of court action challenging the constitutionality of Act 13. Quigley is the judge who has heard those proceedings in Commonwealth…
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC claims financial damages by not being able to build a natural-gas compression station.
Claiming irreparable financial damage, MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC is suing Cecil Township. The company late last week also petitioned Commonwealth Court for a preliminary injunction to pave the way for the construction of a natural-gas compression station on property off Coleman Road near Route 980. MarkWest’s action came after township officials sent the company a letter, dated June 15, denying a second application by the company to use the property for the facility. An application for a special exception was turned down in 2011, with the township zoning hearing board citing potential impact on neighboring properties and disagreeing with MarkWest’s claim of providing an “essential service.” Washington County Court of …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The deadline to file a challenge is 5 p.m. today for state races.
A resident in the 48th Legislative District is challenging the nominating petition of a candidate for the state house seat there. Laura D. Phillips, no address given, filed a petition to set aside the nominating petition of Judith Fisher, a Democrat who is running against incumbent state Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane. The petition was filed Wednesday in the state Commonwealth Court. Phillips is being represented by Pittsburgh attorney Ronald James Brown. Brown said late Thursday that state house candidates are required to have 300 valid signatures on their nominating petitions. Fisher's petition, he said, included 394 signatures—215 of which are being challenged. Signatures are deemed to be invalid if they are from people who are …
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7:30 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Kathleen the DMV downtown Pittsburgh does photo ID's. Many people that work in town go there to get their drivers license renewed and photo's taken on their lunch hour. You are a typical democrat boohooing. more ›