Dec 13, 2012 1 min read

HARRISBURG (AP) — A Commonwealth Court judge plans to meet with lawyers on both sides of Pennsylvania’s voter-identification law to discuss how to handle arguments on its constitutionality.

Thursday’s status conference in a Harrisburg courtroom is being held before Judge Robert Simpson.

The voter ID law took effect in March and became the focus of an extended legal fight that reached the state Supreme Court. Ultimately, Simpson suspended the requirement that voters show photo identification in the Nov. 6 election, but allowed the law to stand.

Democrats say the law disenfranchises voters, particularly minorities, young people and senior citizens. Republicans backers say it’s a safeguard against fraud.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issued more than 16,000 photo IDs for voters who lacked the types of IDs that the law requires.