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Appeals In Voter ID Law

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) --- Minnie Walker, 82, of Manchester has voted in every presidential election since she cast her ballot for John F. Kennedy in 1960.

Since she doesn't drive and doesn't have a license, she visited the Penndot License Center trying to get a voter ID.

"I've always voted and I don't know why I have to come down and do all this. I don't get around like I used to," Walker says.

With people like Minnie in mind, Federal court stuck down the Texas Voter ID Law saying it put an unfair burden on poor and minority voters who do not have the means to afford such identification.

"Those are significant obstacles to voting and those were among the reasons the court cited in striking down the law," says Vic Walczak of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Here in Pennsylvania, the American Civil Liberties Union appealed the state law to Commonwealth Court and lost. Now, the union has filed another appeal to the State Supreme Court with arguments scheduled for two weeks from now.

With three Republican justices and three Democrats, supporters and opponents of the law are split down party lines and so is the court.

"If there is a partisan split, voter ID will go into effect in November," Walczak says.

"I would think that both parties would want honest voting. I don't know what all the furor about this is," says Republican County Commitee Chairman, Jim Roddey.

Roddey says the criticism of the law is overblown and photo ID is fact of modern life.

"It's not difficult. People have to show a photo ID to do most anything. Cash a check at Wal-Mart, get a seat on an airplane," Roddey says.

Minnie Walker decided to go the extra mile to vote.

"God willing," Walker says.

For now, the law remains in effect so if you want to cast your vote, you're going to need a valid photo ID.

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