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Doylestown
Democrats
PO Box 1165
Doylestown, PA 18901
September 26, 2011
Mr. Charles McIlhinney Jr.
22 S. Main St., Suite
220
Doylestown, PA
Dear Senator McIlhinney:
The members of the
Doylestown Democrats want you, as our state senator and as chair of the Senate
State Government Committee, to know that we are opposed to HB 934, the House
Voter ID Bill. We have discussed the issues involved in this legislation at
several meetings and voted unanimously to inform you of our opposition.
Fundamentally we are
opposed on three grounds:
Voters will be
disenfranchised. What could be more undemocratic than reducing the participation
of Americans in their democracy? The voters who will be most affected are those
who already face challenges – the elderly, the disabled, the poor, and young
people. But all voters may well find themselves in longer lines as everyone
searches for documentation they must present.
The bill addresses a
problem that no one has substantiated. The cases of proven voter fraud are
minuscule. Whispers of “there’s voter fraud in Philadelphia” are more than
unproven; they’re tainted with innuendo against the poor and minorities.
The bill will be costly.
Individuals will bear the cost, often those who can least afford it, but also
the state’s taxpayers will pay a tab.
At any time such an expense would be objectionable, but it’s especially
so in this time of economic stress.
Unnecessary, expensive,
and discriminatory – one of those objections alone should be enough to shut
down consideration of this bill. But all three make a compelling case for
leaving the voter requirements alone.
Yours truly,
Kathy McQuarrie,
Chair
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