HARRISBURG - A policy to help senior citizens who no longer drive comply with a new voter law was announced Wednesday by state election officials.
Seniors and others can use an expired state driver's license or expired non-driver ID cards to obtain a free photo ID card for voting purposes from the state Department of Transportation, said Secretary of State Carol Aichele.
Aichele outlined this policy less than a week before a state law requiring voters to show specific voter identification at the polls gets a first tryout.
Voters in Tuesday's primary will be formally asked to show proof of identification, but they will still be allowed to vote on the spot if they lack such identification.
However, the voter ID will be required for the Nov. 6 general election under the law signed last month by Gov. Tom Corbett. A would-be voter lacking ID on that day could cast a provisional ballot, but have six calendar days to submit proof of identity so that ballot can be counted.
Supporters of the law said it will protect the principle of one individual, one vote. Critics said it will disenfranchise the poor and seniors.
The law requires voters to show proof of identification issued by the state or a local government, or from a local government to an employee, a Pennsylvania public or private higher education institution and Pennsylvania care facility that includes a photo, name that "substantially conforms" to the name appearing on a voter register and current effective date in most cases.
Individuals with a driver's licenses that have expired can give their name to a Transportation Department driver license center, said Aichele.
Once they are verified as being in the system, the department will provide them with a non-driver photo ID, proof enough to vote, she added. This can be done even if the individual doesn't have a copy of their expired license.
Aichele said individuals with licenses that expired before 1990 should call PennDOT's Customer Care Center at 1-800-932-4600 to verify their information is still in the system.
The secretary also urged state colleges and universities to add expiration dates to their student ID cards to help student voters comply with the law.
She estimates that one percent of 9.8 million registered voters in the state will need to obtain voter ID.