OUR OPINION: Cooling Tempers

Two judicial crises have kept Pennsylvania politicians in turmoil this election season.

One is the legislation mandating voter photo-ID for the Nov. 6 general election and the other is redistricting of General Assembly seats for 2014. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a complex opinion on photo IDs.

A bipartisan four-justice majority ordered the lower-court judge who had heard the case, Commonwealth Court’s Robert E. Simpson, Jr., to review the State of Pennsylvania’s practical ability to get voter photo IDs in time to all who want them. Judge Simpson, who had approved the law originally, is in effect being asked to think twice.

So why couldn’t the Supreme Court simply do his thinking for him? That could have been quicker, and at this late date, decisiveness is what 67 county election boards need.

Judge Simpson has until Oct. 2 to review the Dept. of State’s procedures, holding them to a strict test that no voters will be disenfranchised as a result. These procedures were indeed hasty and have been evolving since the voter photo-ID law was passed in the spring.

It is likely Judge Simpson will approve again what he approved before, but he will be under pressure to order yet more changes in ID-card procedures. For its part, DOS will be burning the midnight oil trying to anticipate and address these issues in advance.

We believe voter photo ID, which the Republicans thought was a good thing, but served instead to prod a lackadaisical Democrat base into a beehive of registration activity, will remain the law of the land.

On redistricting, the Supreme Court is expected to rule any day now.

The General Assembly’s second plan goes far to meet the objections which caused the first plan to be struck down. Still, the plan offered by piano teacher Amanda Holt, and reviewed here for our readers earlier this year, continues to look superior to the General Assembly’s latest offering.

In any event, what the Supremes decide will become the order of the day, forcing both parties to go back to their core activity: marshalling their supporters to go to the polls election day. Regardless, we can say for sure this summer saw little rest for members of the General Assembly. The long, murky shadow cast by November’s uncertainties spoiled many a sunny day for lawmakers … who are also candidates.

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