In Pennsylvania, voters are automatically registered to vote when obtaining a driver’s license, which is the most common way for Pennsylvanians to identify themselves. They use it to drive, board planes, enter federal facilities and purchase certain medications, among other ways. Yet in Pennsylvania, no such identification is required to cast a vote – and if we want to protect our elections, states should adopt Voter ID.
Public opinion on this issue is clear: more than 73% of Pennsylvanians support voter identification laws. Support crosses party lines, age groups, and geographic regions. Additionally, many voters want reassurance that elections are conducted fairly and that every legal vote is accurately counted and protected. Given such widespread agreement on a basic safeguard, it should be a no-brainer for lawmakers to come together to fix a problem that has wide bi-partisan support.
It wasn’t long ago when even the ACLU-PA, an organization that historically has opposed voter ID, gave its blessing to House Bill 771 introduced in 2025 to the PA legislature. As their Legislative Director, Elizabeth Randolph, writes, “Passing a bill is hard… [but the leaders of both parties] have done their due diligence to craft a bill that answers the concerns of some about requiring ID to vote without disenfranchising voters. ACLU-PA applauds them for getting there.”
Despite overwhelming public support, Pennsylvania’s voter ID legislation remains at a standstill. Opponents frequently claim such laws risk suppressing minority voters or imposing undue barriers. While these arguments warrant thoughtful review, they must be balanced with data showing substantial backing from communities themselves.
Unfortunately for detractors, voter ID is also popular within the very same communities they claim to protect. Recent polls indicate that 58% of Black voters and 66% of Hispanic voters favor voter ID laws. With strong safeguards, such laws can strengthen election security without restricting access to the ballot box.
Pennsylvania has a unique place in American history. As the birthplace of the nation, the Commonwealth should lead by example. Instead, we find ourselves behind many other states and even behind other countries that require voter identification as a standard practice.
Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities we have as citizens. It shapes the direction of our communities, our state, and our country. If identification is necessary for so many routine aspects of daily life, it is reasonable to ask why voting is treated differently.
