One Republican Admits Voter ID Laws Are Meant to Suppress Democrats

Written by Annie-Rose Strasser

This weekend, Pennsylvania Republican House Leader Mike Turzai (R-PA) finally admitted what so many have speculated: Voter identification efforts are meant to suppress Democratic votes in this year’s election.

At the Republican State Committee meeting, Turzai took the stage and let slip the truth about why Republicans are so insistent on voter identification efforts — it will win Romney the election, he said:

“We are focused on making sure that we meet our obligations that we’ve talked about for years,” said Turzai in a speech to committee members Saturday. He mentioned the law among a laundry list of accomplishments made by the GOP-run legislature.

“Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it’s done. First pro-life legislation – abortion facility regulations – in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done.”

Voter identification efforts disproportionately affect low-income voters of color, a typically Democratic demographic. Despite insistence by Republicans that the efforts are needed to prevent misconduct on election day, voter fraud is less likely than being hit by lighting.

This post was originally published by ThinkProgress.

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Photo: Jenn Grover/Wikimedia Commons

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natalie n.

10:03AM PDT on Oct 30, 2012

an interesting turn, people may not be able to get theirs in time.

October 30
send a green star

Aileen C.

9:34AM PDT on Oct 30, 2012

If you get into trouble...the Republicans won't help you.
They can sneer and Jeer at the past 4 years...But not one of them is mentioning the collapse of the Eurozone, the loss of buying power that most Brits are suffering from, the rest of the world's troubles, Global Warming, Water problems NEVER get a mention by the GOP....Why?
Because they dont know, care, think and are not aware that we are all in.
it together
They have no wisdom or compassion just Dogma, hate, bigotry, and ....Oh yes "Christian and Mormon Love for their fellow man". NOT

Lawrence T.

5:51PM PDT on Oct 29, 2012

Is Robert's brain as fat as his face?

October 29
send a green star

5:50PM PDT on Oct 29, 2012

Charge all perpetrators with treason under Federal statute, give them a trial, then Club Fed.
Unless REAL action is taken they will continue to subvert our democracy, already in shambles.

Lori Ann H.

3:04PM PDT on Oct 29, 2012

Republicans are nothing but lying, cheating, underhanded, sneaky, deceptive sleezy scumbuckets.

Robert P.

11:22AM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

A good lady friend of mine here in Connecticut, whose son of 27 years ( who has never worked a day in his life) wanted to get her son on SSDI following several accidents which left him somewhat mildly disabled.

Well, of course he had lost his birth certificate and social security card and had no photo ID and guess what? He had to get together all of those documents before SSDI would even consider him. And you know what? For the first time in his life, he hustled his little fat ass and got the necessary papers. When there's something to be gained, somehow these po folk can manage to get their paperwork together THEN, so why not to vote too if it means anything to them?

July 30
send a green star

11:13AM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

And I see that LD B is on them; the side effects of which are "bleeding heart syndrome."

LD B.

10:47AM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

BTW, Robert, as a native Pennsylvanian of 6+ decades, I'll put my intimate knowledge of the Commonwealth and its political machinations up against your fantasies any time you like.

7:11AM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

Oh my God. Am I back in BHO High School again with the same paid cheerleaders to deal with?
I understand that 30% more students dropped out of High School this week once they realized that anything they could ever accomplish wouldn't be THEIR accomplishment anyway. All of the entrepreneurs are moving to Europe.