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The plaintiffs in the voter ID case are set to file papers today asking the Commonwealth Court to extend the block on the voter ID law. It was stopped only for the November election.

“Even though there is not a big presidential election, the right to vote is important.”

ACLU Legal Director, Vic Walczak says plaintiffs want to extend Judge Robert Simpson’s order halting implementation of voter ID until a final decision in the case, possibly even a decision by the state Supreme Court, is reached. He says it’s important to ensure voters can cast a ballot in the primary and in other elections.

“A year after passage of the law, less than 20,000 people have gotten one of these voter IDs. And the most conservative estimate is that there are at least 100,000 people without IDs. So if you do the math, there’s at least 80,000 people who still need ID to vote.”

Pennsylvania Department of State Spokesman Ron Ruman says the Commonwealth is in a holding pattern until the court rules on whether allow implementation of the law.

“We’re really looking for direction from the court.”

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