Pennsylvania Supreme Court Must Grant Injunction to Stop Voter Suppression Law

Contact: Wayne Ranick, (412) 562-2444, wranick@usw.org

This statement was released today by USW International President Leo W. Gerard

(Pittsburgh) — The United Steelworkers (USW) International is shocked by Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson’s decision to deny an injunction to stop the implementation of a new Pennsylvania’s voter identification law. 

The USW strongly disagrees that the law would not directly result in voter disenfranchisement. The USW has been critical of these efforts in states all around the country that attempt to limit the voting rights of seniors, minorities, young and first-time voters. Without question, voter suppression laws are attempts to undermine the democratic process.

Recent studies have indicated that supposed voter fraud is not a reality and the sponsors of these laws have a completely different agenda.

Perhaps this is most clear in Pennsylvania where the Republican majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives said that the voter ID law “is going to allow Gov. Romney to win the state.” 

The USW strongly believes that the state Supreme Court should immediately reverse the lower court ruling and grant the injunction before the general election.

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